JUDAS 


JUDAS    by 

HARRY    KEMP 


NEW  YORK 

MITCHELL  KENNERLEY 
MCMXIII 


COPYRIGHT    1913    BY    MITCHELL    KINNERLEY 


PBESS  OF  J.  J.  LITTLE  *  IVIS  COMPANY,  NZW  YORT 


TO 
P.  L.  B. 


A  noise  of  archery  and  wielded  swords 

All  night  rang  through  his  dreams.  When  risen 

morn 

Let  down  her  rosy  feet  on  Galilee 
Blue-vistaedf  on  the  house-top  Judas  woke: 
Desire  of  battle  lifted  in  his  breast 
Although  the  day  was  hung  with  sapphire  peace, 
And  to  his  inner  eye  battalions  bright 
Of  seraphim,  fledged  with  celestial  mail, 
Came  marching  up  the  wide-flung  ways  of  dawn 
To  usher  in  the  triumph-day  of  Christ  .  .  . 
But  sun  on  sun  departed,  moon  on  moon, 
And  still  the  Master  lingered  by  the  way, 
Iscariot  deemed,  dusked  in  mortality 
And  darkened  in  the  God  by  flesh  of  man. 
For  Judas  a  material  kingdom  saw 
And  not  a  realm  of  immaterial  gold, 
A  city  of  renewed  Jerusalem 
And  not  that  New  Jerusalem,  diamond-paved 
With  Love  and  sapphire-walled  with  Brother- 
hood, 

5 


Which  He,  the  Master,  wrestled  to  make  plain 
With  thews  of  parable  and  simile — 
So,  'tis  the  Flesh  that  clogs  Him,  Judas  thought 
(A  simple,  earnest  man,  he  loved  Him  well 
And  slew  Him  with  great  friendship   in  the 

end) ; 

Yea,  if  He  chose  to  say  the  Word  of  Power, 
The  seraphim  and  cherubim,  invoked, 
Would  wheel  in  dazzling  squadrons  down  the 

sky 

And  for  the  Hosts  of  Israel  move  in  war 
As  in  those  holy  battles  waged  of  yore. 
*          *          * 

Ah,  all  the  World  now  knows  Gethscmane, 
But  few  the  Love  in  that  betraying  Kiss! 


Judas 


ACT  I 


In  the  courtyard  of  Judas'  warehouse,  in 
Jerusalem. 

Two  servants  of  Judas  discovered.  They 
are  taking  account  of  merchandise  which  is 
piled  up,  having  been  unloaded  from  recently 
arrived  caravans.  One  of  them  is  Aristobulus, 
a  Greek  slave,  who  stands  with  stylus  and  wax 
tablet,  overseeing  the  re-ordering  and  arrange- 
ment of  the  goods,  and  taking  inventory.  The 
other  is  a  Syrian  from  Antioch,  also  a  slave  of 
Judas. 

ARISTOBULUS 

Well,  then — that  makes  an  end  of  this  con- 
signment. It  tallies  to  a  point  with  the  ac- 
count rendered  by  the  caravan-master.  Let 
us  now  reckon  up  what  the  latest  caravan 

7 


8  JUDAS 

brought  us  over  the  Damascus  route — first 
come  the  jars  of  Syrian  wine.  They  are  of 
greatest  value  and  must  be  counted  and 
stored  away  in  a  cool  place  before  the  sun 
is  at  a  much  greater  height — else  will  they 
lose  in  savor.  How  many  jars  do  you  find? 

SECOND  SLAVE 

Fifty- four. 

» 

ARISTOBULUS 

What — only  fifty-four?  The  bill  of  lading 
says  fifty-five.  You  must  have  missed  one. 
Count  them  over  again.  It  may  be  that  the 
rascally  caravan  drivers  have  drunk  one  up, 
and  cast  the  jar  away.  They  are  a  bad  and 
lawless  lot. 

SECOND  SLAVE 

[Having  recounted  the  jars. 
You  were  right,  and  mine  was  the  mistake.     I 
counted   fifty-five,   exactly,   this   time.      The 
best  of  us  make  mistakes  at  times. 


JUDAS  9 

ARISTOBULUS 

But  you  must  learn  not  to  make  mistakes. 
They  are  costly  in  this  business.  Besides, 
though  Judas  is  a  good  master,  nothing 
arouses  his  wrath  sooner  than  bad  manage- 
ment and  mistakes.  But  who  was  your  mas- 
ter before?  Or  did  you  ever  have  another 
master?  In  this  country  one  is  liable  to  be 
a  free  man  one  day  and  a  slave  the  next. 

SECOND  SLAVE 
I  was  a  free  man  before. 

ARISTOBULUS 

You  favor  the  Syrians  in  general  cast  of  coun- 
tenance. 

SECOND  SLAVE 

Rightly  so — for  I  am  a  Syrian.  I  hail  from 
Antioch. 

ARISTOBULUS 

From  Antioch — I  too  hail  from  Antioch. 
That  is,  I  lived  there  several  years.  Be- 


io  JUDAS 

fore  that  I  lived  in  Greece  on  the  Corin- 
thian isthmus,  when  I  was  a  mere  lad  and 
before  I  was  sold  into  slavery.  I  was  al- 
ways restless  and  eager  for  adventure.  I 
was  a  stout  youth.  One  day  a  blind  minstrel 
stopped  for  the  night  at  our  town  and  in 
the  market  place  he  recited  stories  from  the 
Odyssey  about  the  travels  of  Ulysses.  That 
very  next  day  I  ran  away  from  home  and 
joined  a  trireme  .  .  .  After  that  I  expe- 
rienced many  vicissitudes.  Finally,  being 
one  of  the  defeated  in  war,  I  was  caught 
and  sold  into  slavery,  and,  to  make  a  long 
story  short,  here  I  am,  a  slave  to  a  Jew. 
But  how  came  you  to  become  a  slave? 


SECOND  SLAVE 

How  came  I  to  become  a  slave?  ...  In  a 
far  different  way.  My  father  failed  in  busi- 
ness. He  was  an  olive  merchant.  He  was 
old,  and  I  allowed  myself  to  be  sold  into 
slavery  in  his  stead,  to  clear  the  indebted- 
ness he  was  in  to  a  money-lender. 


JUDAS  1 1 

ARISTOBULUS 

Well,  no  matter  what  they  say  about  the  Jews 
— and  a  Greek  naturally  hates  a  Jew — you 
are  fortunate  indeed  in  having  found  a  Jew 
for  a  master,  and  this  Judas  in  particular! 
The  Jew  works  his  servants  hard,  but  at 
least  he  treats  them  as  if  they  were  his  fel- 
low men.  He  doesn't  abuse  them  as  do  the 
Roman  and  Greek  masters — and  our  pres- 
ent master  is  as  reasonable  and  as  kind  a 
Jew  as  anyone  could  find. 

SECOND  SLAVE 

In  one  breath  you  both  laud  and  decry  the 
Jews. 

ARISTOBULUS 

And  I  do  so  wittingly.  For  they  are  all  gone 
mad  over  their  religion.  In  all  else  are  they 
a  sensible  people.  But  for  their  laws  and 
their  temple  here  at  Jerusalem  will  they  lay 
down  their  lives  gladly,  and  at  any  time. 


12  JUDAS 

And  here  and  there  false  prophets  are  al- 
ways springing  up,  who  ever  find  hundreds 
to  believe  in  them  and  to  follow  them  whith- 
ersoever they  lead.  And  having  secured  a 
following,  they  then  go  forth  into  the  waste 
places  and  deserts  where  no  man  dwells,  and 
there  they  fast  and  pray,  and  baptize  those 
who  have  accompanied  them,  seeking  what 
they  call  salvation.  There  is  no  Jew — no 
matter  how  business-like  and  practical  in 
every-day  affairs  he  may  be — who  is  not 
touched  a  little  with  this  fanatic  madness. 
Take  as  an  instance  our  master  Judas.  As- 
tute in  trade  and  bargains  though  he  be, 
Judas  himself  is  always  speaking  of  the  Mes- 
siah. He  tells  me  with  his  own  mouth  many 
times  each  day  that  the  time  of  the  advent 
of  the  Saviour  of  the  Jews  is  at  hand  I 

SECOND  SLAVE 

Much  of  what  you  tell  me  I  in  no  wise  under- 
stand— what  mean  they  by  the  words  Sa- 
viour and  Messiah? 


JUDAS  13 

ARISTOBULUS 

One  who  is  to  come  endued  with  supernatural 
power,  and  deliver  them  out  of  the  hands  of 
their  oppressors.  Long  ago  the  Jews  were 
a  great  people.  In  the  days  of  their  great- 
est kings,  Solomon  and  David,  they  were 
rulers  over  other  nations,  and  not  subjects, 
as  now  they  have  been  for  so  many  years. 
At  one  time  their  realm  extended  from  the 
Euphrates  to  the  Great  Sea.  Since  those 
days  it  has  been  the  one  dream  and  ambi- 
tion of  the  Jews  to  bring  in  anew  their  an- 
cient glory.  And  many  prophecies  have 
grown  up  around  this  hope  of  theirs,  so  that 
now  they  fully  expect,  when  the  time  is  ripe, 
the  sudden  appearance  of  a  descendant  of 
the  Royal  House  of  David.  He  will  come, 
their  prophets  say,  a  plenipotentiary  of  Je- 
hovah, armed  with  divine  power,  and  make 
the  Jews  not  only  once  more  their  own  mas- 
ters, but  the  rulers  of  the  rest  of  the  world. 
Nay,  they  even  go  further,  some  claiming 
that  with  the  coming  of  this  great  leader 


14  JUDAS 

the  golden  age  will  begin,  that  even  the 
dead  will  rise  from  their  burial  places  to 
live  again — Death  himself  at  last  yielding 
to  the  puissance  of  the  New  Order — and  all 
men  will  be  friends  and  will  live  together  in 
love  and  concord.  That  is  what  every  Jew 
sees  in  his  mind's  eye  when  he  says  Saviour 
or  Messiah. 

SECOND  SLAVE 

Truly,  comrade,  that  sounds  in  the  telling  like 
one  of  our  Greek  myths.  'Tis  a  pretty  tale 
indeed.  But  do  they  really  have  faith  in 
such  a  hope? 

ARISTOBULUS 

Yes.  Though  it  sounds  like  an  incredible  tale 
told  by  travellers  to  while  away  the  hours  of 
a  languid  afternoon,  yet  with  them  it  seems 
as  true  and  undeniable  as  the  fact  that  the 
sun  rises  or  the  stars  shine. 

[A  noise  of  voices  heard  from  the  dis- 
tance.    They  stop  conversing  to  listen. 


JUDAS  15 

SECOND  SLAVE 

[After  a  pause. 
What  was  that — what  does  that  mean? 

ARISTOBULUS 

It  means  that,  somewhere  in  the  city,  another 
tumult  is  begun.  But  that  is  nothing  un- 
usual. You  will  grow  used  to  tumults  and 
brawls — they  are  of  daily  occurrence  in  Jeru- 
salem. 

SECOND  SLAVE 
What  do  they  quarrel  about? 

ARISTOBULUS 

About  their  religion.  The  Sadducees  fight  the 
Pharisees,  and  the  Pharisees  fight  the  Sad- 
ducees, and  the  Zealots  use  their  daggers  on 
both  parties.  Then,  coming  up  from  all 
parts  of  Judea  on  festival  days,  the  Pilgrims 
fight  among  each  other. 

\Vo\ces  heard,  drawing  rapidly  nearer. 


1 6  JUDAS 

SECOND  SLAVE 

But  this  sounds  like  the  cry  of  a  multitude  in 
pursuit  of  one  whom  they  hate.  It  reverber- 
ates like  the  roar  of  an  awakened  wild-beast. 

ARISTOBULUS 

[Looking  down  street. 

You  speak  true!  They  are  indeed  in  pursuit 
of  some  one  .  .  .  Lo,  he  comes,  running 
this  way. 

[Enter,    in   great   disorder,    Matthew, 

the  tax-gatherer. 

MATTHEW 

Hide  me,  hide  me  until  they  pass  by — I  have 
eluded  them  for  the  moment  ...  If  they 
but  lay  hands  on  me,  they  will  tear  me  limb 
from  limb! 

ARISTOBULUS 

We  are  slaves  .  .  .  We  dare  do  naught  but 
what  our  master  bids  us  do.  We  cannot  hide 
you — you  must  see  our  master. 


JUDAS  17 

MATTHEW 

Where  is  your  master  then?  In  God's  name 
either  lead  me  to  him  or  straightway  call 
him  forth! 

ARISTOBULUS 

I  will  summon  him — though  he  will  be  in  wrath 
with  me  for  disturbing  him,  for  this  is  the 
hour  which  he  spends  reading  the  Law. 

{Exit    Arlstobidus.      Noise     of    mob 

heard. 

[Re-enter     Arlstobulus.       After     him 

comes  Judas,  carrying  in  his  right  hand 

the  scroll  of  the  Law.     Noise  of  mob 

heard  again. 

JUDAS 

Whence  all  this  uproar  and  disturbance?   Can- 
not a  servant  of  God  meditate  on  the  Law 
and  the  Prophets  in  peace? 
{To  Matthew. 

What  would  you? 


i 8  JUDAS 

MATTHEW 

I  am  pursued  and  in  danger  of  my  life.  Give 
me  a  hiding  place  till  those  who  pursue  me 
have  passed  me  by. 

JUDAS 

What  wrong  have  you  done  to  the  multitude 
to  make  them  hate  you  so?  In  what  wise 
have  you  oppressed  them,  or  what  one  of 
the  Laws  of  our  fathers  have  you  broken? 

MATTHEW 

I  was  a  tax-gatherer  for  the  Romans.  I  am 
so  no  longer.  But  the  People  still  remem- 
ber me  and  the  office  I  held  over  them,  and 
so  they  seek  to  be  revenged  on  me. 

JUDAS 

You,  a  Jew!  And  yet  you  have  betrayed  to 
the  Gentile  your  own  people! 

MATTHEW 

But  cannot  one  repent  of  evil  done?  Behold! 
I  no  longer  gather  taxes  ... 


JUDAS  19 

[The  mob  roars  again  exultantly,  like 
a  pack   of  hounds,  which,   having  lost 
the  scent,  now  takes  it  up  again. 
Listen !   They  have  at  last  discovered  my  strat- 
agem— I  am  doomed! 


JUDAS 

He  who  has  betrayed  his  own  people  well  de- 
serves  death    at   their   hands.      But    come, 
Matthew,  tax-gatherer,  I  will  save  you. 
[To  Aristobulus. 

Aristobulus,    hold   them    off    till    I   come    out 
again ! 

ARISTOBULUS 
Yes,  master. 

[Exeunt  hurriedly  Judas  and  Matthew 
within. 

[After  a  moment's  pause  a  mob  of 
Jewish  citizens  storms  in,  armed  with 
clubs  and  stones.  Cries  of  Kill  the  tax- 
gatherer,  Kill  him,  are  heard. 


2o  JUDAS 


[To  Aristobulus. 
Did  you  see  one  running  this  way? 

ARISTOBULUS 

One,  running,  passed  this  way.     He  is  not  here 
now.     He  turned  down  yonder  street. 
[Re-enter  Judas. 

JUDAS 

Citizens!  What  means  this  tumult?  How 
dare  you  thus  break  in  upon  my  peace? 

FIRST  CITIZEN 

We  seek  one  Matthew,  a  tax-gatherer,  who 
ran  this  way  to  escape  the  visitation  of  our 
just  vengeance  upon  his  head. 

SECOND  CITIZEN 

He  has  made  himself  rich,  this  Matthew,  from 
the  taxes  the  Romans  farmed  out  to  him. 
He  has  been  the  most  exacting  of  Publicans. 


JUDAS  2 i 

He  has  wrung  the  last  penny  from  many  of 
us.     Therefore  would  we  put  him  to  death. 

FIRST  CITIZEN 

Yes !  'Tis  bad  enough  to  have  to  pay  tribute  to 
a  Gentile — but  to  see  a  Jew  wring  the  very 
last  drop  of  blood  from  his  own  kind — this 
is  too  grievous  a  burden  to  be  borne. 

JUDAS 

I  grant  you  so — it  is  a  grievous  thing.  But 
he  whom  ye  seek  is  not  here. 

A  VOICE  FROM  THE  CROWD 

But,  indeed,  he  ran  this  way!  He  must  be 
here! 

FIRST  CITIZEN 

\_To  him  who  has  just  spoken. 
Yes  I  It  was  you  who  saw  him  running  by. 

VOICE 

Yes,  I  saw  him  pass  by  my  bazaar  where  I  sell 
sweet-meats — so  I  took  out  after  him.  He 


22  JUDAS 

thought  he  had  entirely  escaped  by  turning 
down  a  byway,  but  /  saw  him. 

FIRST  CITIZEN 

Judas!  It  is  plain  that  you  seek  to  hide  him 
from  us!  Is  he  a  kinsman  of  yours? 

JUDAS 

I  tell  you  yet  again  that  he  whom  you  seek  is 
not  here.  Go  your  several  ways.  Why  must 
you  citizens  of  Jerusalem  be  always  stirring 
up  tumults?  There  is  not  a  day  passes  but 
brings  its  bloodshed,  not  a  night  in  which 
cries  of  affliction  and  woe  do  not  rise  to  the 
stars.  Nor  can  a  single  festival  pass  by  un- 
marred  with  broils.  You  seem  to  lay  hold 
on  every  opportunity  to  sow  discord,  care- 
less of  the  harvests  of  death  which  you  must 
afterward  surely  reap.  Yet  is  Rome  lenient 
with  us  Jews.  We  have  our  own  laws;  our 
religious  rites  are  never  interfered  with. 
Our  temple  alone,  of  all  the  temples  of  the 
world,  stands  unpolluted  with  the  images  of 
Csesar. 


JUDAS  23 

A  ZEALOT 

All  that  is  true — and  still  Caesar  is  our  King — 
and  we  would  have  no  King  but  God!  None 
shall  reign  over  God's  Chosen  but  God  him- 
self! 

JUDAS 

Brethren — I,  too,  would  have  no  King  but  God. 
Else  were  I  no  true  child  of  Israel.  But  we 
must  bide  God's  time.  Let  us  possess  our- 
selves with  patience  .  .  .  When  His  King- 
dom comes  it  will  not  come  like  this  .  .  . 
He  will  send  One ! 

VOICE    FROM    THE    CROWD 

[Breaking  in. 
Ah!     He  speaks  now  of  the  Messiah! 

ANOTHER  VOICE 

Yes — he  discourses  like  the  Pharisees.  He 
continually  cries  Wait,  Wait — but  we  can 
wait  no  longer.  We  tire  of  delays,  of  de- 
liverance which  never  comes. 


24  JUDAS 

FIRST  CITIZEN 

And  whilst  we  tarry  the  Romans  keep  draining 
our  coffers  of  gold — keep  levying  taxes  on 
us  as  a  subject  people — on  us,  the  children 
of  Israel,  over  whom  God  has  watched  with 
a  zealous  eye  through  all  the  ages!  He  who 
brought  us  up  out  of  Egypt  with  a  mighty 
hand  and  an  outstretched  arm! 

SECOND  CITIZEN 

[To  Judas. 

You  say  that  the  Romans  are  easy  with  us, 
that  they  do  not  interfere  with  our  religious 
rites?  But  have  they  not  of  late  diverted 
the  temple-money  aside  from  its  holy  and  or- 
dained uses? — have  they  not  used  the  tithe 
money  to  build  an  aqueduct  with,  from  Cses- 
area  to  Jerusalem? 

VOICE  OF  ZEALOT 

Aye,  must  we  ever  stand  still  without  returning 
a  blow?  Must  we  ever  submit  to  such  sac- 


JUDAS  25 

rileges? — No,  say  I — the  time  to  strike  is 
at  hand! 


FIRST  CITIZEN 

And  with  whom  can  we  so  well  begin  as  with 
those  of  our  own  flesh  and  blood  who  sell 
themselves  to  the  Romans  and  join  in  op- 
pressing us? 


SECOND  CITIZEN 

Therefore  must  we  come  at  this  Matthew,  and 
rend  him  limb  from  limb — we  must  make  an 
example  of  such  as  he. 


VOICE   FROM  THE   CROWD 

Once  I  was  compelled  to  sell  my  very  cloak 
that  I  might  get  money  wherewith  to  pay  a 
tax  he  demanded.  I  am  a  poor  man — it  is 
contrary  to  the  law  of  Moses  to  force  a 
poor  man  to  sell  his  only  cloak. 


26  JUDAS 

SECOND  CITIZEN 
Let  us  go  on  and  seek  him  further. 

FIRST  CITIZEN 

Nay,  I  am  persuaded  that  this  man  has  con- 
cealed him  within. 

[To  Judas. 

Stand  aside  and  let  us  enter  and  lay  hold  on 
him! 

[First  and  second  citizens  draw  swords 
and  press  toward  Judas,  closely  accom- 
panied by  crowd. 
[Judas  lifts  his  hand,  barring  the  way. 

JUDAS 

Nay,  you  shall  not  go  within.  Remember  who 
I  am,  that  I  am  Judas,  the  richest  and  most 
influential  merchant  in  Jerusalem.  Do  you 
think  that  I  will  stand  by  and  let  you  storm 
through  my  house,  destroying  and  overturn- 
ing everything  in  a  vain  search  for  one  who 
has  probably  already  made  his  escape  from 
you? 


JUDAS  27 

FIRST  CITIZEN 

Let  me  and  my  friend  [pointing  to  second 
citizen]  go  in  and  search  for  him.  We  will 
injure  nothing. 

VOICES 

[From  various  parts  of  the  crowd. 
Yes !    Yes !    Let  them  go  in  then ! 

JUDAS 

Nay!  I  will  not.  Who  gave  any  of  you  the 
right  to  search  my  house?  Ye  know  the 
Law! 

VOICE  FROM  CROWD 
The  Roman  Law  is  no  law  for  us. 

JUDAS 

The  Roman  spear  and  sword  will  be,  then. 

[To  mob. 

Go  your  ways  now,  before  Pilate's  soldiery 
come  and  some  of  you  lose  your  lives! 


28  JUDAS 

FIRST  CITIZEN 

[To  mob. 

You  see  now!  Though  he  denies  that  this 
Matthew  lurks  within,  yet,  by  his  actions, 
and  by  these  veiled  threats  hidden  beneath 
his  words,  he  gives  his  denial  the  lie!  Come 
on! 

[To  Judas. 

Step  aside,  Judas.  We  would  not  harm  you, 
but  the  tax-gatherer  we  must  have,  and  if 
you  will  not  deliver  him,  like  a  true  child  of 
Israel,  into  our  hands  for  a  just  vengeance, 
then  will  we  take  him. 

MOB 

[Pressing  forward. 
Death  to  the  tax-gatherer! 

JUDAS 

[  Threatening. 
Back,  I  say — back! 

[A  happy  thought  striking  him,  he  up- 
lifts the  copy  of  the  Torah  which  he 
has  laid  on  a  counting  table. 


JUDAS  29 

You  speak  of  the  One  Law — not  the  Roman 
Law,  but  the  Law  you  revere,  the  Law  of 
our  Fathers — behold  then!  This  Law  you 
have  broken — God's  Law  which  ye  affect  to 
revere  and  to  keep. 

[Showing  them  the  Torah. 
For  when  ye  brake  in  upon  my  peace  and  quiet 
I  was  reading  in  these  very  scriptures. — And 
to  disturb  one  when  one  is  reading  in  the 
book  of  Moses  is  punishable  by  death,  and 
it  is  also  an  insult  to  the  most  High  God  of 
our  Fathers! 

[This  has  the  desired  effect — the  mob 
gives  back  in  consternation. 

FIRST  CITIZEN 
God  save  us! — We  knew  not  what  we  did! 

JUDAS 

If  I  so  desired,  ye  might  be  punished  by  the 
Sanhedrin  for  this !  Some  of  you  I  know — 

[Pointing. 
You! — and  you! — and  you! 


30  JUDAS 

FIRST  CITIZEN 

Judas!  Forgive  us  our  trespass  and  we  will 
withdraw.  Unwittingly  have  we  broken  the 
Law. — Report  us  not  to  the  Sanhedrin! 

[At  this  juncture  a  sound  of  military 
marching  is  heard. 


JUDAS 

Never  mind !  I  will  not  make  complaint — but 
there!  Hear  you  not  that  trampling  of  feet 
and  clatter  of  arms?  It  is  just  as  I  warned 
you.  The  Roman  guard  comes,  to  investi- 
gate the  tumult.  It  is  too  late  now  to  dis- 
perse— you  must  now  stand  and  give  an  ac- 
count of  yourselves  to  the  Romans. 

[The  mob  tries  to  steal  out,  but  is  com- 
pelled to  surge  back  again — they  all 
gather  on  right,  and  from  back  enter 
centurion,  with  a  company  of  soldiers; 
they  stand  on  left  toward  back.  Judas, 
left  front.  A  momentary  tableau. 


JUDAS  3 i 

CENTURION 

[Haughtily. 

What  means  all  this?  Will  you  Jews  never  be 
at  peace  except  under  continual  threat  of  the 
uplifted  sword?  I  tell  you,  that,  since  the 
bloody  tumult  ye  engaged  in  at  your  last 
Passover,  the  patience  of  the  Emperor  has 
become  well-nigh  exhausted.  His  tolerance 
will  not  endure  forever.  Will  we  Romans  at 
last  have  to  break  down  your  walls,  over- 
throw your  temples,  and  sow  the  remains  of 
your  holy  city  with  salt? 

[Murmurs  of  wrath  among  the  popu- 
lace. 

A  VOICE 
He  insults  us  to  our  very  faces. 


ANOTHER  VOICE 

He  deserves  stoning.     In  so  speaking  of  our 
holy  city  he  blasphemes  God. 


32  JUDAS 

FIRST  CITIZEN 
Be  silent,  brethren — they  are  armed! 

CENTURION 

[To  Judas. 
What  are  these  people  about? 

JUDAS 

They  were  in  hue  and  cry  after  a  Jewish  tax- 
gatherer,  who  ran  this  way,  they  say! 

CENTURION 

[Turning  again  to  the  people. 
Listen,  Jews!  Is  it  not  the  Law  that  taxes  be 
gathered?  Then  why  pursue  this  tax-gath- 
erer? He  does  according  to  Law!  The 
Emperor  lets  you  live  your  own  lives,  lets 
you  serve  your  own  God  according  to  the 
ways  of  your  Fathers — all  he  exacts  from 
you  is  this  tribute!  'Tis  but  a  little  thing. 
Caesar  is  not  a  harsh  master.  Remember — 
in  other  days  the  little  finger  of  the  Assyrian 
was  heavier  upon  you  than  is  now  the  whole 


JUDAS  33 

arm  of  the  Roman.  Will  ye  never  gain  wis- 
dom? Will  ye  always  continue  to  bring 
down  upon  yourselves  the  wrath  of  those  to 
whom  ye  are  subjects? — But  this  one  thing 
Rome  requires,  none  other — Ye  must  not 
break  the  Roman  Law! 

A  ZEALOT 

[Pushing  out  from  the  crowd;  in  a  loud 

voice. 

Nay — First,  and  foremost,  and  above  all, — 
we  must  not  break  the  Jewish  law,  the  Law 
of  Laws — the  sacred  Will  of  God,  handed 
down  to  us  in  our  holy  books,  from  of  old, 
by  our  Fathers ! 

[Several  citizens  lay  hold  of  him  and 

attempt  to  hush  him. 

ONE 

Be  silent! 

SECOND  ONE 

Govern  your  frenzy!  Will  you  bring  down 
death  upon  all  of  us ! 


34  JUDAS 

VOICE  FROM  THE  BACKGROUND 

Nay!  Let  him  speak.  The  Spirit  of  God  is 
evidently  upon  him,  giving  him  this  head- 
long boldness. 

ZEALOT 

[Breaking  away  from  those  who  would 
constrain  him. 

What,  then,  is  this  Roman  Law  of  which  you 
prate  so  insolently?  It  is  naught  but  a  code 
devised  by  the  minds  of  men! — that  and 
none  other.  Us  it  cannot  bind  because  we 
have  a  Law  of  our  own,  one  that  is  holy  and 
right,  and  entirely  of  God.  //  is  not  a  cor- 
rupt and  shameful  thing  used  as  an  instru- 
ment of  oppression! 

[To  centurion,  who  threatens. 
Nay!     Kill  me  if  you  will! 

[The  mob,  taking  courage  from  the 
frenzy  of  the  Zealot,  begin  to  press  in 
threateningly  on  the  soldiers,  crying, 
He  tells  the  truth,  He  is  inspired  of 
God,  Down  with  the  Romans! 


JUDAS 35 

JUDAS 

[Boldly  stepping  between  the  Romans 
and  the  Jews. 
[To  the  people. 

Go  your  ways  now,  while  there  is  yet  time,  ere 
there  ensue  shedding  of  blood  and  loss  of 
life! 

[  To  centurion. 

Slay  him  not,  sir — He  knows  not  what  he  says 
— he  has  a  devil  and  is  beside  himself! 


ZEALOT 

[To  Judas,  in  a  frenzy. 

Woe  unto  you,  Judas,  of  Kerioth!  It  is  you 
that  have  a  devil,  not  I — woe  unto  you,  you 
betrayer  of  the  Son  of  God! 

[He  falls  down  in  a  trance. 


A  CITIZEN 

Betrayer  of  the  Son  of  God?     Can  God  have 
a  son?    The  fellow  is  indeed  mad. 


36  JUDAS 

ONE  CITIZEN,  to  Another 
What  did  he  mean  when  he  spoke  so  of  Judas? 

ANSWERING  VOICE 

I  know  not. — Perhaps  he  hath  a  devil,  as  Judas 
said. 

A  SOLDIER 

\_Sneerinyly. 

All  the  Jews  are  mad  and  possessed  with  devils, 
methinks ! 

[//  murmur  of  resentment  from  the 
mob.  A  stone  thrown  at  the  soldier 
who  has  just  spoken  hits  the  wall  be- 
hind. 

CENTURION 

[Flaring  up. 

So! — you  treacherous  dogs!  Will  ye  never 
learn  better  than  this!  Taste  then  of  the 
sharpness  of  the  Roman  sword!  Soldiers, 
hence  with  these  circumcised  slaves! 

[Exeunt  Jews,  soldiers  following  close, 
with  drawn  swords.  A  scattered  fusil- 


JUDAS 37 

lade  of  stones  strikes  their  shields. 
Then  sounds  of  cries  and  blows  of  the 
stage.  Farious  voices  calling,  Ah,  the 
Barbarian  has  killed  me!  Ah  me!  Ah, 
woe  is  Jerusalem!  Then  naught  but  a 
few  groans  heard,  tumult  dying  out. 

JUDAS 

\_Wa\ts  a  moment,  till  all  is  quiet. 
O  Israel !     Israel !     How  have  you  fallen  from 
your  high  estate! 

[Calling  within. 

You  may  venture  forth  again!     All  is  safe! 
Your  pursuers  have  gone! 
[Re-enter  Matthew. 

MATTHEW 
Praise  be  to  the  God  of  Israel! 

JUDAS 

Aye,  to  Him  render  thanks!     You  were  hard 
pressed ! 


38  JUDAS 

MATTHEW 

I  was  indeed!  Yet  did  I  not  seek  escape  for 
mine  own  sake — but  I  wished  to  live  for  the 
sake  of  those  that  pursued  me. 

[Enter,  at  back,  Simon  the  Zealot;  he 
stands  for  a  time  unobserved,  listening 
to  their  conversation. 

JUDAS 

You  wished  to  live  for  their  sakes  I  You  mean 
that — 

MATTHEW 
It  will  take  many  words  to  explain. 

JUDAS 

That  is  very  strange;  you  speak  in  paradoxes. 
I  do  not  understand. 

MATTHEW 

Listen !  I  have  a  marvel  to  relate.  The  Mes- 
siah has  come.  I  have  seen  him  whom  gen- 


JUDAS  39 

erations  have  longed  to  see  and  have  died 
without  seeing.  He  has  chosen  me  as  one 
of  his  disciples. 

JUDAS 

The  Messiah!     And  you,  a  tax-gatherer,  his 
chosen  one !    Incredible ! 


SIMON 

[Coming  forward. 

Aye!     The  day  of  the  Lord  is  truly  at  hand. 
I  too  have  seen  and  heard. 


JUDAS 

Simon!     Returned  safe  from  Gilead! 
[They  embrace. 

SIMON 

Aye,  Judas,  my  brother — returned  from  Gil- 
ead. Safe  and  sound — with  many  cruses  of 
balm.  But  I  bring  news  with  me  that  will 


40  JUDAS 

be  more  healing  than  all  the  balm  of  Gilead 
to  your  soul!  As  I  crossed  the  Jordan,  on 
my  way  back,  with  the  caravan,  I  came  upon 
a  great  multitude  following  after  one  clothed 
in  raiment  of  camel's  hair,  who  preached  to 
them  continually,  exhorting  them  to  bap- 
tism. However,  thinking  it  to  be  naught 
but  another  false  prophet  who  was  leading 
the  people  astray  like  foolish  sheep,  I  had 
gone  on  without  stopping,  had  not  the  voice 
of  the  man  given  me  stay.  It  had  a  note  in 
it  like  the  sound  of  the  mysterious  wind 
when  it  walks  at  night  among  the  cedar 
trees.  I  alighted  from  my  camel  and  lis- 
tened closely  to  hear  whereof  he  spoke.  Soon 
learned  I  that  the  speaker  was  one  who 
called  himself  John  the  Baptist.  And  in- 
deed, his  words  seemed  not  of  man,  but  of 
God,  like  the  words  our  holy  prophets 
spake  of  old,  so  soul-compelling  were  they. 
It  seemed  as  if  Elijah  were  risen  from  the 
dead  to  call  Israel  to  repentance  again.  In 
fact  there  were  some  there  who  maintained 
that  he  was  Elijah  come  again.  Repent  ye, 


JUDAS  41 

Repent  ye,  he  cried  unto  the  multitude,  some 
of  whom  wept  at  his  words.  Repent  ye — 
for  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven  is  at  hand. 
And  after  he  had  baptised  many  and  the 
multitude  had  somewhat  dispersed,  I  too 
came  forward,  questioning  of  him,  Art  thou, 
then,  the  Messiah  who  is  to  come? 
I  am  the  voice  of  one  crying  in  the  wilderness 
of  whom  Isaiah  spake,  he  replied,  and  I  in- 
deed baptise  with  water  of  repentance — but, 
continued  he,  there  comes  one  after  me 
whose  sandals  I  am  not  worthy  to  unloose. 
He  indeed  shall  baptize  with  the  true  bap- 
tism— with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  with  fire. 
His  fan  is  in  his  hand  and  he  will  thor- 
oughly purge  his  floor  and  gather  his  wheat 
into  the  garner;  but  he  will  burn  up  the  chaff 
with  unquenchable  fire. 


JUDAS 

Ah!  I  understand  that  dark  saying — Israel 
is  the  wheat,  and  the  Romans  are  the  chaff 
— but  proceed,  Simon! 


42  JUDAS 

SIMON 

Night  came  on!  The  caravan  had  gone  ahead, 
leaving  me  alone  with  my  camel.  I  pitched 
my  tent.  In  the  morning  I  purposed  ques- 
tioning the  prophet  further — to  ask  of  him 
when  the  Messiah  of  whom  he  prophesied, 
and  for  whom  all  Israel  waited,  would  come, 
if  perchance  he  were  not  already  amongst 
us;  and,  if  so,  where  I  could  find  him,  that  I 
might  join  with  him  ere  his  work  began. 
But  at  daybreak  I  woke  to  find  that  the 
Prophet  had  mysteriously  departed  in  the 
night,  and  with  him  his  disciples,  leaving  the 
multitude  behind.  So  now  I  know  little 
more  than  at  first. 

JUDAS 

Nevertheless,  the  Day  of  the  Lord  is  at  hand. 
My  soul  feels  its  coming.  All  Israel  faints 
for  deliverance  as  a  traveller,  lost  in  the 
desert,  faints  for  water.  This  present  state 
of  things  cannot  long  continue,  if  God  still 
loves  his  people. 


JUPAS 43 

MATTHEW 

Friends,  the  day  of  the  Lord  is  even  now  at 
hand.  Like  the  first  putting  forth  of  the 
almond  tree  in  Spring — The  fields  will  soon 
be  clothed  with  green,  and  after  that  will 
come  the  golden  ripeness  of  the  harvest. 
\_To  Simon. 

You  need  no  longer  seek  the  prophet  John. 
For  he  of  whom  John  and  all  the  Prophets 
prophesy  is  even  now  among  us. 

JUDAS 

[Incredulously. 
Have  you  seen  him  and  spoken  with  him? 

MATTHEW 

Yes,  that  have  I! 

JUDAS 

Where? 

MATTHEW 

In  no  other  place  than  in  Capernaum  of  Gali- 
lee. 


44  JUDAS 

JUDAS 
In  Galilee  1 

MATTHEW 

I  was  sitting  there  at  the  receipt  of  the  cus- 
toms when  he  passed  by  and  called  me  unto 
him. 

SIMON 

Are  you  that  notorious  Matthew,  the  tax- 
gatherer? 

MATTHEW 

I  am  that  Matthew  you  speak  of,  but  no 
longer  do  I  gather  taxes. 

SIMON 

[Drawing  dagger. 

Then  Matthew,  betrayer  of  your  own  people 
to  the  Romans,  prepare  to  die! 

JUDAS 

[Coming  up  and  seizing  Simon's  wrist. 

Hold,  Simon!     Will  you  never  cease  playing 

the  intemperate  and  hasty  zealot?    Hear  the 


JUDAS  45 

man  through!     Did  he  not  say  that  he  no 
longer  served  the  Romans? 

MATTHEW 
[Quietly. 

Yes,  but  hear  me  through  in  patience! — then, 
after  I  have  spoken,  slay  me  if  you  will. 
Verily,  I  am  that  Matthew,  the  Jew  who 
gathered  taxes  for  the  Romans.  But  I  no 
longer  sit  at  the  receipt  of  the  customs. 

SIMON 

But  you  have  just  told  us  that  you  recently  sat 
receiving  taxes  in  Galilee !  And  you  will  fill 
the  office  no  more — until  the  time  of  the 
next  gathering,  belike! 

MATTHEW 

I  have  met  the  Messiah — I  have  put  off  all 
my  old  habits  of  life. 

JUDAS 

The  Messiah !  You  hear  him,  Simon,  the  Mes- 
siah 1 


46  JUDAS 

MATTHEW 
The  very  Messiah,  none  other. 

SIMON 
How  did  you  know  him  to  be  the  Messiah? 

JUDAS 

Yes,  what  signs  did  he  show? — for  there  be 
false  as  well  as  true  prophets. 

MATTHEW 

Never  spake  man  as  this  man  spake.  Never 
looked  man  as  this  man  looked.  I  was  sit- 
ting at  the  receipt  of  the  customs  at  Caper- 
naum when  he  passed  by.  His  shadow  fell 
across  the  counter  and  darkened  the  reck- 
onings I  was  making.  It  was  late  eventide — 
I  was  in  an  ill  humor.  The  receipts  for  the 
day  had  been  unusually  poor.  The  Gali- 
leans had  been  lax  in  payment.  I  was  on 
the  point  of  rebuking  him  who  stood  in  my 
light,  but,  as  I  looked  up,  I  looked  full  in 
the  face  of  the  Wonderful  Master,  He 


JUDAS  47 

smiled  at  me  in  kindly  wise.  He  spake  but 
two  words,  "Follow  me."  I  rose  like  one 
under  a  spell.  I  cast  over  the  table  from 
before  me.  The  denarii  scattered  about  the 
street.  Something  seemed  to  break  within 
me,  and  the  bands  which  had  bound  my  soul 
in  littleness  and  covetousness  were  loosened. 
A  newer  and  grander  life  put  forth  to  flower 
within  me.  I  obeyed  the  Master  and  fol- 
lowed him. 

SIMON 

By  what  tokens  and  signs  did  he  prove  him- 
self the  Messiah? 

MATTHEW 

It  needed  no  signs,  no  tokens.  I  had  only  to 
see  him,  and,  above  all,  to  hear  him  speak, 
to  know  for  a  certainty  that  he  was  the  Mes- 
siah. When  you  see  him,  and  hear  him 
speak,  you  too  will  believe  in  him  and  ac- 
cept him.  Only  those  who  harden  their 
hearts  against  him  can  resist  his  words  and 
the  light  in  his  face. 


48  JUDAS 

JUDAS 

But  how  comes  it  that  you  are  not  now  with 
him — this  wonderful  leader  of  men?  What 
make  you  here,  at  this  time  of  times,  in 
Jerusalem?  If  /  had  found  the  Messiah, 
as  you  say  you  have,  I  would  never  have  left 
his  presence,  until,  victorious,  he  had  swept 
the  Romans  into  the  Mediterranean, — until 
he  had  conquered  all  the  oppressors  of  the 
Jews,  and  sat  triumphant  on  the  throne  of 
David, — till  God's  kingdom  was  brought  in ! 


MATTHEW 

Let  me  explain.  He  assured  me  that  the  day 
of  his  triumph  was  not  yet,  though  close  at 
hand.  And  I  came  to  Jerusalem  at  his  own 
bidding.  He  commanded  me,  saying,  "Go, 
sell  all  you  have,  and  follow  me." — These 
were  his  very  words.  I  have  now  disposed 
of  all  that  was  mine  in  worldly  possessions. 
And,  behold,  this  very  day  I  return  to  him. 


JUDAS  49 

JUDAS 

You  must  show  us  the  way  to  him.  You  must 
take  us  with  you — for  we  also  desire  to  join 
with  the  Saviour  of  Israel.  It  has  been  my 
dream  night  and  day,  to  see  the  Kingdom  of 
God  brought  into  being. 

SIMON 
We  will  make  him  stronger  by  two. 

MATTHEW 
Come  then! 

[Starts  to  go. 

JUDAS 

But  a  moment!  I  must  leave  my  business  af- 
fairs in  some  one's  hands  before  I  go. 

[Calling  servant. 
Aristobulus !     Aristobulus ! 

ARISTOBULUS 
[Enters. 
Master!     What  will  you? 


50  JUDAS 

JUDAS 

Boy  I  I  go  on  a  long  journey.  For  all  your 
youth  you  are  cunning  at  bargains  and  a 
servant  to  be  relied  on  and  trusted  in.  Time 
and  again  have  I  entrusted  you  with  my  af- 
fairs while  I  went  forth  from  Jerusalem 
even  as  far  as  Alexandria,  on  pressing  mat- 
ters of  business.  But  this  time,  God  knows 
when  I  shall  return! 

ARISTOBULUS 

Master,  I  have  yet  to  betray  any  trust  you  re- 
pose in  me. 

JUDAS 

I  leave  you  in  charge  of  all  my  affairs  till  I 
return.  See  that  the  wines  are  well  cared 
for.  Take  special  heed  of  Cephas,  the 
chief  buyer  of  my  wines.  He  will  cheat  if 
he  can.  Be  astute  in  bargaining  with  the 
caravan  masters.  Pay  as  little  as  you  can 
for  goods,  and  sell  for  as  much  as  you  can. 
Be  not  remiss  in  the  smallest  item  I  have 


JUDAS  5 i 

charged  you  with.  And  if  you  discharge  all 
duties  well,  on  my  return  I  will  reward  you 
with  the  gift  of  your  own  freedom. 

ARISTOBULUS 

I  will  be  as  your  second  self  in  my  duty  to- 
ward you. 
[Exit. 

JUDAS 

And  now,  brethren,  let  us  forth  to  Galilee  to 
join  the  Messiah! 

MATTHEW 

Nay,  Judas!  Before  you  remove  from  Jeru- 
salem to  become  one  of  the  Master's  di- 
sciples, you  must  do  as  I  have  done,  "You 
must  sell  all  you  have  and  follow  me," — so 
commanded  the  Master  of  me! 

JUDAS 

Nay — that  is  what  he  required  of  you  because 
your  money  was  ill-gotten,  was  gotten  by 


52  JUDAS 

extorting  unjust  taxes  from  your  own  coun- 
trymen, for  the  Romans.  On  the  other 
hand,  my  money  has  all  been  gained  by  hon- 
est trading.  Besides,  I  must  see  him  first 
and  when  he  commands  me  with  his  own 
lips  to  do  as  he  commanded  you — then  will 
I  obey  him  to  the  uttermost. 

MATTHEW 

Very  well,  then — we  shall  see  the  Master  first. 
Yet  am  I  certain  that  he  will  require  the 
same  of  you  that  he  required  of  me. 

SIMON 

And  as  for  my  possessions,  they  are  of  small 
account,  just  enough  to  keep  my  wife  and 
son  from  starving  during  my  absence.  And 
surely  in  that  case  he  would  not  wish  me 
to  dispose  of  my  worldly  goods? 

JUDAS 

The  Messiah  might  be  able  to  put  my  gold  to 
good  use.  Yea!  Even  the  Messiah!  For 


JUDAS  53 

must  he  not  partly  by  human  aid  build  up 

this  Kingdom  to  be? 

[//  Roman  procession  passes  by  back- 
entrance,  with  clank  and  clatter  of 
arms. 

MATTHEW 

Ah!  Rome!  Rome!  Your  days  in  Judea 
are  numbered!  Soon  will  you  cease  to  draw 
tight  the  reins  of  the  world.  For  the  day  of 
the  Lord  is  at  hand.  The  Messiah  soon 
will  storm  through  these  very  streets,  sweep- 
ing your  hosts  before  him  in  triumph,  the 
Sword  of  the  Wrath  of  God  in  his  hand,  his 
feet  treading  out  the  red  vintages  of  the  con- 
suming wrath  of  Jehovah ! 

SIMON 

{Uplifting  his  dagger. 
No  King  but  God!    No  King  but  God! 

MATTHEW 

On  to  Galilee,  brethren! 

[Sound  of  tumult  afar  off. 


54  JUDAS 

JUDAS 

By  the  Beard  of  Aaron!     This  is  the  city  of 
tumults  and  not  the  City  of  Peace! 

MATTHEW 

The  time  of  the  Feast  of  Unleavened  Bread 
draws  nigh.     The  people  arc  ever  restless 
at  times  of  Festival. 
[They  start  to  go. 

SIMON 

[Turning  suddenly  to  Judas. 
Stay!     We  have  forgotten  Lebbaeus. 

JUDAS 
Of  mornings  he  is  busy  at  the  temple. 

SIMON 
We  must  have  him  accompany  us. 

. JUDAS 

Yes.      We   must   not   leave   Lebbaeus   behind, 
that  true  servant  of  the  Lord.     He  too  will 


JUDAS  55 

be  glad  of  the  good  tidings.  Many  and 
many  a  day  he  and  I  have  discussed,  and 
interpreted  together,  the  prophecies  concern- 
ing the  coming  of  the  Messiah. 


SIMON 

And  yet  I  despair  of  our  ever  persuading  him 
to  go  with  us.  He  is  a  Levite.  And  the 
Levites  and  Pharisees  seem  content  to  pre- 
serve things  as  they  are — as  long  as  the 
Romans  leave  them  free  to  offer  up,  unmo- 
lested, the  sacrifices  that  Moses  commanded, 
— as  long  as  they  do  not  bring  their  graven 
images  and  the  bust  of  the  emperor  into  the 
holy  city. 

MATTHEW 

Indeed,  for  that  matter,  the  Romans  do  great- 
ly favor  the  Jews — for  I  have  often  been 
told  by  a  far-travelled  centurion  whose  ac- 
quaintance I  made  in  Galilee,  at  Capernaum, 
that  the  temple  at  Jerusalem  is  the  only  one 
among  those  of  all  the  peoples  of  the  earth 


56  JUDAS 

wherein  the  statue  of  the  emperor  has  not 
been  set  up,  wherein  the  emperor  has  not 
enjoyed  divine  honors. 

JUDAS 

Come,  let  us  to  the  Temple  and  tell  Lebbxus 
of  the  good  tidings — for  I  know  him  better 
than  you  do,  Simon,  and  I  am  sure  that  we 
can  persuade  him  to  go  with  us  to  Galilee. 

SIMON 

[Gazing  down  the  street. 

We  need  not  remove  one  foot  toward  the 
Temple — Lebbsus  himself  saves  us  that 
journey.  Lo!  Where  he  comes! 

JUDAS 

But  that  can  hardly  be  Lebbaeus!  He  rends 
his  garments  and  dust  is  strewn  over  his 
head. 

[Peering. 

Yet  it  is  he.  Mayhap  one  of  his  near  kinsmen 
has  died. 

[Enter  Lebbteus. 


JUDAS 57 

LEBB^EUS 

Woe  unto  Jerusalem,  that  Holy  City  of  God! 
And  woe,  woe  to  the  Children  of  Israel — 
for  sorrow  was  never  like  unto  theirs  since 
the  beginning  of  the  world! 

SIMON 
How  now,  Lebbseus? 


LEBB^US 


[Choking. 
The  Romans! 


JUDAS 
Aye!     The  Romans!     What  of  them? 

LEBB^US 

The  Abomination  of  Desolation  of  which  the 
Prophet  Daniel  spake — the  time  is  at  hand, 
and  now  is  ...  Even  I,  a  Levite,  can  no 
longer  endure  in  patience. 


58  JUDAS 

JUDAS 

Well  said,  Lebbaeus!  But  tell  us  what  this  is 
that  is  of  such  woeful  import? 

LEBB^US 

The  Romans! — Last  night,  toward  the  last 
watch,  under  cover  of  darkness,  they 
marched  into  the  Holy  City,  bearing  along 
with  them  their  golden  eagles.  And  now 
in  the  outer  courts  of  the  Temple  stand  the 
graven  images  which  the  Law  has  forbid- 
den. The  Temple  is  polluted. 

[They  all  rend  their  garments. 

ALL 
Woe,  woe  to  Israel! 

LEBB^US 

[Continuing. 

At  the  first  glimpse  of  dawn  there  they  stood 
revealed,  the  golden  eagles  of  Rome,  pois- 
ing with  outstretched  wings,  as  if  they 
would  next  fly  into  the  very  Holy  of  Holies. 


JUDAS  59 

I  had  determined  long  ago  to  be  patient  in 
the  Lord  and  to  endure  to  the  uttermost. 
But  now  the  Romans  have  offered  insult  to 
God  himself.  The  entire  city  is  in  commo- 
tion, for  the  story  of  the  sacrilege  has  spread 
among  the  people  as  a  forest  fire  sweeps  up 
the  slopes  of  Lebanon.  Already  men  are 
running  in  out  of  the  country,  intent  on  com- 
pelling the  Romans  to  remove  their  stand- 
ards out  of  the  Holy  Place.  Ah,  if  God 
would  but  now  send  unto  us  His  Anointed 
One,  whom  He  has  promised  us!  Ah,  if 
only  the  Messiah  would  come  now  and  lead 
the  multitude  to  punish  these  insulters  of  our 
holy  laws  and  customs ! 


SIMON 

Lebbaeus,  you  have  spoken  after  the  manner  of 
the  prophets.  Behold,  the  Messiah  of 
whom  you  speak  has  come!  Had  you  not 
so  unexpectedly  run  to  us,  we  had  sought 
you  out  to  tell  you  the  good  news! 


60  JUDAS 

LEBB^US 

The  Messiah  already  among  us!  But  where? 
Is  he  here  in  Jerusalem?  And,  if  so,  by 
what  signs  and  portents  are  we  to  know 
him  to  be  of  God? 

MATTHEW 

Nay,  my  life  if  I  bear  false  witness  1  I  saw 
him  with  my  own  eyes,  in  Galilee. 

JUDAS 
Yes,  he  has  seen  him  and  spoken  with  him. 

SIMON 

And  indeed  I,  for  my  part,  saw  his  forerunner, 
the  re-arisen  Elias,  at  the  Upper  Ford  over 
Jordan. 

LEBB^US 

Then,  belike,  he  is  already  marching  to  Jerusa- 
lem, leading  the  multitude  to  victory  over 
the  Romans.  We  had  better  stay  here  and 


JUDAS  6 i 

wait  his  arrival.  Else  might  we  pass  him 
by.  And  the  coming  of  the  Messiah  is  an 
event  which  I  have  waited  for,  in  fasting 
and  prayer,  lo,  these  many  years! 

MATTHEW 

He  told  me  to  return  to  Capernaum  and  rejoin 
him  there. 

[Noise  of  tumult  heard  without. 

LEBB^US 

Hearken  to  the  voice  of  the  multitude.  Like 
the  waves  of  the  Great  Western  Sea  beating 
in  storm  about  a  promontory,  so  they  dash 
hither  and  thither,  without  a  leader,  driven 
on  by  the  wind  of  their  own  despair  and 
wrath ! 

MATTHEW 

But  come,  brethren,  we  delay  too  long.  Why 
waste  words  when  the  Chosen  One  of  God 
waits  us  in  Galilee?  They — 

[Pointing  without. 
will  soon  have  the  leader  they  lack. 


62  JUDAS 

LEBB^US 

[To  Matthew. 

Lead  and  we  will  gladly  follow. 
[Exeunt. 
[Enter  the  mob  of  citizens. 

FIRST  CITIZEN 
What  shall  we  do?     Whither  shall  we  go? 

SECOND  CITIZEN 

To  Ca?sarea,  whither  all  the  chief  men  of  Jeru- 
salem have  repaired,  to  beg  of  Pilate  that 
he  remove  his  heathen  images  from  the 
Holy  City! 

FIRST  CITIZEN 

I  for  my  part  am  tired  of  continual  supplica- 
tion. It  does  no  good. 

A  VOICE 

Yes!  Let  us  fall  on  the  Legionaries  stationed 
here  at  Jerusalem,  and  put  them  all  to 
death.  They  be  few,  we,  many. 


JUDAS  63 

SECOND  CITIZEN 

But  they  are  every  one  of  them  soldiers  skilled 
in  warfare.  And  though  here  they  be  few 
in  numbers,  yet  Rome  has  enough  of  them 
to  overwhelm  the  habitable  world.  Do 
nothing  rash!  Let  us  hasten  to  Caesarea 
and  join  the  elders  in  their  supplications 
toward  Pilate! 

VOICES 

He  advises  well !  On  to  Caesarea !  On  to 
Caesarea! 

[They  go  out  as  they  cry  these  things. 

CURTAIN 


ACT  II 

In  the  yard  of  an  inn  at  Capernaum.  On 
the  left  stands  the  entrance  to  the  inn.  In  the 
extreme  background  lies  the  beach,  and,  be- 
yond, the  Sea  of  Galilee.  A  fisher-boat  is  seen, 
drawn  up  on  shore. 

Three  fishermen  discovered  mending  nets 
at  rise  of  curtain. 

FIRST  FISHERMAN 
That  was  a  great  catch! 

SECOND  FISHERMAN 

From  that  one  cast  we  filled  our  boat  full  of 
leaping  heaps  of  fish! 

THIRD  FISHERMAN 

Yes!    It  is  well  that  we  at  last  took  the  Won- 
der-worker's   Wvords    in    earnest   and    threw 
over  the  net  where  he  bade  us — else  had  we 
64 


JUDAS  65 

gone   through   the   day's   work  with   empty 
boats. 

[To  first  fisherman. 

If  we  had  listened  to  you,  we  would  never 
have  had  this  luck.  Why  did  you  mock  at 
his  advice? 


FIRST  FISHERMAN 

I  thought  he  was  only  making  fun  of  us,  when 
he  came  up  and  advised  us  to  throw  our 
nets  over  on  the  shallow  side.  It  was  con- 
trary to  all  my  experience  as  a  fisherman ! 


SECOND  FISHERMAN 

I  myself  did  not  have  faith  in  what  he  said. 
But  I  held  my  peace  and  advised  following 
his  advice,  just  for  luck.  You  know  we  had 
made  two  casts  on  the  deeper  side  toward 
the  open  water  and  had  gotten  nothing  .  .  . 
And  I  was  indeed  astonished  when  we  at- 
tempted to  haul  in  the  nets  and  found  them 
so  heavy  with  fish  that  we  had  to  call  on  the 


66  JUDAS 

other  boats  not  far  off  to  lend  us  a  hand. 
And  then,  even  with  all  our  care,  the  nets 
tore  I 

FIRST  FISHERMAN 

Did  you  notice  how  jealous  of  our  good  luck 
old  Zebedee  was?  He  let  down  in  the  same 
place  after  us,  but  drew  up  naught  but 
gravel,  shells,  and  a  few  creeping  things. 

SECOND  FISHERMAN 

It  serves  Zebedee  right  I  He  is  too  greedy 
and  miserly,  and  envious  of  others. 

THIRD  FISHERMAN 

I  saw  the  old  man  alone  in  his  boat  this  after- 
noon— something  unusual.  Have  his  two 
sons,  James  and  John,  gone  down  to  the 
Festival  at  Jerusalem,  think  you? 

FIRST  FISHERMAN 

I  wouldn't  be  surprised  if  they  had — Zebedee 
can  well  afford  to  let  them  go,  if  he  chooses 


JUDAS  67 

— he  runs  three  fishing  boats,  altogether. 
But  we  poor  fishermen  cannot  afford  to  go 
to  festivals.  We  have  to  stay  at  home  and 
work  if  we  want  to  live. 

[Enter,  a  citizen  of  Capernaum. 

CITIZEN 

God  bless  us  all,  have  you  heard  the  latest 
news? 

FIRST  FISHERMAN 

What  is  that? 

CITIZEN 

Have  you  heard  what  is  told  about  James  and 
John,  the  sons  of  Zebedee?  How  they  have 
gone  off  with  the  Wonder-worker  as  his 
disciples?  It  is  also  rumored  that,  because 
of  what  they  have  done,  their  father  has 
disinherited  them! 

THIRD  FISHERMAN 

Zebedee  is  a  rich  man.  .  .  James  and  John 
were  fools.  If  I  were  his  son,  I'd  stay  at 


68  JUDAS 

home  with  him,  Wonder-worker  or  no  Won- 
der-worker! 

CITIZEN 

Yet  this  man  is  of  great  power,  though  the 
Pharisees  say  his  strength  is  of  the  Evil  One. 

THIRD  FISHERMAN 

Drat  the  Pharisees!  .  .  .  No  matter  whence 
his  power,  he  has  this  day  provided  us  with 
a  marvellous  catch  of  fish. 

CITIZEN 

Yes,  I  heard  about  that — it  is  the  common  talk 
of  the  village.  But  how  much  truth  is  there 
in  it?  Common  report  exaggerates.  .  .  . 
The  net  broke,  for  instance! 

FIRST  FISHERMAN 
It  is  all  true. 

THIRD  FISHERMAN 

It  is  so  true  that  if  I  were  he  I  would  give  all 
my  time  to  fishing  and  speedily  become  rich. 


JUDAS  69 

He  gains  nothing  running  about  the  country 
telling  the  people  of  their  sins.  .  .  . 

\Pause. 

I  wonder  where  he  learned  so  much  about 
our  occupation.  It  is  evident  that  he  knows 
more  about  fishing  than  any  fisher  on  the 
lake. 

CITIZEN 

And  yet  he  hails  from  Nazareth,  and  is  naught 
but  a  carpenter's  son,  people  say.  Jesus  of 
Nazareth,  men  call  him.  And  before  he 
learned  the  art  of  wonder-working  and  per- 
forming miracles  he  followed  his  father's 
trade  at  Nazareth,  and  now  he  goes  about 
healing  the  sick  and  preaching  wonderful 
things,  not  to  be  believed.  .  .  .  Many  say 
that  he  is  the  Messiah. 


SECOND  FISHERMAN 

Well,  I,  for  one,  believe  in  him.  He  knows 
how  to  catch  fish.  And  he  must  know 
whereof  he  speaks,  as  well. 


70  JUDAS 

CITIZEN 

But  why  does  he  not  go  among  the  learned  for 
his  disciples?  He  seems  to  choose  none  but 
fishermen  to  be  his  followers! 

THIRD  FISHERMAN 

[Offended  with  the  rest. 

By  the  altar  at  Jerusalem,  in  that  he  shows 
wisdom ! 

[  The  other  fishermen  nod  assent. 
We  fishermen  have  good  sense,  if  I  do  say  it 
myself.     And  we  are  not  afraid  of  danger, 
for  we  live  perilous  lives. 

CITIZEN 

[Seeking  to  mollify  the  fishermen. 
I  mean  no  offence. 

THIRD  FISHERMAN 

[Surlily. 

Who  else  among  the  lake-people  have  joined 
with  him? 


JUDAS  7 i 

CITIZEN 
Two  other  brothers — Peter  and  Andrew. 

FIRST  FISHERMAN 

[Dropping  end  of  the  net  in  astonish- 
ment. 

Peter  and  Andrew!  .  .  .  Andrew  is  not  so 
bad;  but  Peter!  I  never  knew  so  quarrel- 
some and  violent  a  fellow.  He  does  noth- 
ing but  make  trouble.  I  wonder  why  the 
man  from  Nazareth  chose  him? 

SECOND  FISHERMAN 

I'll  tell  you  why — when  Peter's  your  friend  he 
is  your  friend.  The  Wonder-worker  picked 
a  good  man,  that's  what  I  say! 

CITIZEN 

Well,  probably  the  man  who  can  work  miracles 
and  all  that  knows  pretty  well  what  he's 
about  when  he  chooses  such  men  for  his  dis- 
ciples. 


72  JUDAS 

[The  fishers  rise  angrily,  and  the  citi- 
zen hastens  away.  They  re-seat  them- 
selves, and  continue  mending  net.  A 
pause. 

FIRST  FISHERMAN 

We're  just  as  good  as  anybody  else,  even  if  we 
are  only  fishermen.  What  say  you,  Zach- 
ary? 

SECOND  FISHERMAN 

Indeed  we  are — and  better. 
[Another  pause. 


THIRD  FISHERMAN 

[ffith  a  sigh  of  relief. 

Come!  The  net  is  mended  now  .  .  .  just  as 
good  as  ever.  That  was  a  bad  tear  and  a 
good  tear.  I'd  be  willing  to  have  a  thousand 
rents  the  same  way,  if  each  time  I  might 
draw  in  just  such  a  boatload  of  fish. 

[They  rise. 


JUDAS  73 

FIRST  FISHERMAN 

Come,  comrades !  all  together,  now  .  .  .  into 
the  boat  with  it. 

[They  cast  the  net  into  the  boat  and 
prepare  to  re-embark. 
Ere  sunset  we'll  try  our  luck  again. 


SECOND  FISHERMAN 

God  send  us  good  luck! 

[Fishers  pull  of  in  the  boat. 
[Enter  two  pilgrims.     They  rap  at  the 
door  of  the  inn.     The  innkeeper  comes 
out. 

INNKEEPER 

You  seek  lodgings,  masters?  No  more  room 
have  I.  My  inn  is  already  pressed  full  with 
those  who  have  come  to  see  the  New 
Prophet. 

{Under  his  breath. 

And  a  vile  crowd  they  are,  too — every  one 
has  something  the  matter  with  him. 


74  JUDAS 

FIRST  PILGRIM 

We,  also,  have  come  to  see  him  and  to  hear 
his  wonderful  words. 

SECOND  PILGRIM 
Where  is  he?    Abides  he  within? 

INNKEEPER 

He  sailed  across  the  Sea  of  Galilee,  in  a  fisher- 
boat,  this  morning,  to  avoid  the  multitudes 
that  flock  to  him  from  all  parts  of  Judea.  I 
take  it  that  you  two  forerun  a  party  of  pil- 
grims. How  many  more  come  after  you? 

FIRST  PILGRIM 

We  forerun  two-score  from  beyond  Jordan. 
We  ourselves  were  followers  of  the  Prophet 
John.  But  now  we  would  follow  this  man. 

SECOND  PILGRIM 

For  John  sent  some  of  his  disciples  to  him  to 
find  out  if  he  were  the  Messiah  that  was  to 
come,  and  he  convinced  them  that  he  was. 


JUDAS  75 

FIRST  PILGRIM 

Can't  you  find  room  somewhere  for  those  who 
come  behind  us?  It  is  good  weather — we 
might  sleep  in  your  courtyard. 

INNKEEPER 

No !  I  haven't  room  in  the  courtyard,  even. 
You  will  have  to  sleep  wherever  you  can — 
on  the  sands  of  the  beach,  perhaps — I  have 
neither  lodging  nor  food  for  one  more. 

[Exit  innkeeper.  Enter  the  other  pil- 
grims in  a  body,  hobbling,  crawling,  be- 
ing carried,  etc. 

ONE  OF  THEM 

[To  first  pilgrim. 
Is  the  Wonder-worker  nigh,  Bar-Jonah? 

FIRST  PILGRIM 

The  innkeeper  says  that  he  crossed  the  Gali- 
lean Lake  early  this  morning. 


76   -  JUDAS 

THE  SAME  VOICE 

And  can  we  find  a  place  to  stay,  here  at  the 
Inn? 

FIRST  PILGRIM 
No — the  place  is  already  over-run. 

A  SICK  MAN 

[Tremulously. 

I  can  go  no  further;  I  shall  die.  Bring  me  to 
the  Master  immediately.  I  know  he  can 
heal  me.  Men  say  he  heals  at  a  touch. 

A  VOICE 

Be  of  good  cheer,  brother;  he  is  not  far  from 
here — we  will  soon  find  him. 

THE  SICK  MAN 

Bring  me  to  him  immediately.  I  am  rich,  and 
will  reward  him. 


JUDAS  77 

FIRST  PILGRIM 

He  seeks  no  reward  for  his  healing,  men  say; 
but  come,  brethren,  since  there  is  no  room 
for  us  here  at  the  inn,  let  us  follow  after 
him,  across  the  Galilean  Lake.  Let  us  hire 
fishers  to  row  us  across. 


A  VOICE 

Well  said,  Bar- Jonah!     To  the  boats,  fellow- 
pilgrims,  to  the  boats! 


ANOTHER  SICK  MAN 

[Falling. 
Carry  me  to  one  of  them — I  can  no  longer 

walk.     My  sickness   overcomes  me,   and  I 

faint. 

[They  all  go  out,  some  carried  on  lit- 
ters, some  hobbling  along,  a  few  blind 
and  being  led. 

[Enter  Mary  of  Magdala  and  two 
companion  courtesans. 


78  JUDAS 

MARY 

Where  is  this  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  where  is  this 
high  and  holy  prophet  of  God?  I  will  bring 
him  low,  as  Samson  was  brought  low  by 
Delilah. 

FIRST  COURTESAN 

Believe  me,  mistress,  if  any  can  bring  him  low, 
it  is  you. 

MARY 

Ah,  I  am  beautiful,  am  I  not?  .  .  .  And  yet 
he  rebuked  me  when  I  threw  myself  in  his 
way  .  .  .  and  he  naught  but  a  vagabond 
prophet,  while  I  am  sought  after  by  Roman 
captains  and  rulers.  And  he  rejected  me — 

[Choking. 
I  love  him. 

[A  pause. 
I  could  kill  himl     He  scorned  me! 

FIRST  COURTESAN 

Nay,  mistress,  he  scorned  you  not.  I  must  say 
it,  mistress  .  .  .  mock  not  at  me  when  I 


JUDAS  79 

say  that  he  seemed  too  noble  and  gentle  for 
that. 

MARY 

Nay,  worse,  he  pitied  me !  And  yet,  he  is  fair 
and  straight  .and  tall  and  beautiful  ...  I 
love  him !  .  .1  hate  him ! 


FIRST  COURTESAN 

And  now  you  have  stripped  off  all  your  jewels 
and  raiment  of  silk  and  go  in  sackcloth. 

SECOND  COURTESAN 

Yea !  Do  you  think  this  is  a  likely  way  to  en- 
snare a  man? 

MARY 

I  deal  with  one  who  is  more  than  a  man,  or 
less  than  a  man,  I  know  not  which — and  so 
I  take  more  than  ordinary  means  to  win  him. 
Behold— 

{Laughing. 

I  go  to  him,  as  one  repentant  of  her  sins,  in 
sackcloth  and  ashes.  Do  I  not  look  sober 


8o  JUDAS 

and  contrite — and  demure  enough  to  entrap 
the  heart  of  a  saint? 

[Mincing  and  making  a  little  mouth. 
I  shall  become  his  disciple  ...  I  shall 
smooth  his  path  of  cares.  I  shall  look  after 
his  every  little  want  as  only  a  woman  can. 
And  then,  if  he  grow  not  to  love  me,  I  will 
betray  him  to  those  whose  fingers  itch  for 
his  life — the  Pharisees! 

SECOND  COURTESAN 
Soft,  mistress!     Yonder  come  two  men. 

MARY 

They  are  disciples  of  his.  .  .  .  They  were 
with  him  when  he  rebuked  me. 

{Enter  Philip  and  Bartholomew. 

PHILIP 

In  all  my  days  I  never  saw  such  a  thing.  He 
cannot  avoid  the  multitudes  which  follow 
him.  Wherever  he  goes,  they  find  him  out; 


JUDAS  8 i 

they  people  the  waste  places,  and  even  the 
mountain-tops,  and  give  him  no  rest. 

[Seeing  Mary   and  companion   courte- 
sans. 
What  make  you  here,  mistress? 

MARY 

I  would  see  Jesus,  the  Healer  and  Prophet  of 
Nazareth. 

v 

BARTHOLOMEW 

He  is  not  for  such  as  you!  Are  you  not  that 
Mary  of  Magdala,  whom  he  rebuked  for 
wantonness  not  long  ago? 

MARY 

Since  then  I  have  repented.  And  now  I  come 
to  be  cleansed  of  my  sins. 

BARTHOLOMEW 

But  I  tell  you  that  the  Master  has  naught  to 
do  with  harlots — he  is  a  holy  man  of  God. 


82  JUDAS 

PHILIP 

Did  he  not  repulse  you  in  a  public  place? 
What  more? 

MARY 

Nay,  but  then  I  came  before  him  attended  by 
lute-players  and  dancing-girls,  glorying  in 
my  wantonness.  It  was  the  wantonness  in 
me,  and  not  me,  that  he  rebuked.  And  now 
I  come  to  him  in  sackcloth,  repentant. 

[Philip  and  Bartholomew  walk  to  one 
side. 

PHILIP 

[To  Bartholomew. 
The  woman  is  shrewd! 


BARTHOLOMEW 

I  fear  her  shrewdness.  I  fear  all  such  women. 
[Callina  across  to  Mary. 

Get  you  back  to  Magdala  where  you  belong! 
You  are  more  dangerous  to  men  in  sackcloth 
than  in  silk.  But  think  not  to  win  power  over 


JUDAS  83 

the  Master  with  your  tales  of  repentance 
and  your  beautiful  face  unveiled.  He  is 
nearer  a  god  than  a  man.  He  will  laugh 
at  you.  Your  cunning  is  of  no  avail.  Be- 
sides, the  Master  is  not  here,  but  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Lake ! 


.   MARY 

You  are  men  harsh  of  heart  and  unpitying — I 
will  go  to  him  and  seek  him  out.  Come, 
sisters! 

[Exeunt  Mary  and  companions. 

PHILIP 

Perhaps  this  is  a  dark  design  of  the  Pharisees 

— as  Delilah  did  with  Samson But  lo ! 

yonder  comes  Matthew  returning  from  Je- 
rusalem. 

BARTHOLOMEW 

He  has  made  quick  dispatch  of  his  affairs  and 
an  expeditious  journey. 


84  JUDAS 

PHILIP 

He  comes,  bringing  with  him  three  others, 
just  as  the  Master  foretold  when  he  bade  the 
innkeeper  hold  room  for  twelve  instead  of 
nine. 

BARTHOLOMEW 

But  they  look  woebegone,  and  their  cloaks  are 
rent.  What  great  calamity  has  befallen  at 
Jerusalem? 

PHILIP 

Yet,  look  closer — at  their  countenances,  not 
their  apparel.  See  you  not  that  their  faces 
shine  as  with  a  sudden  and  great  joy? 

[Enter    Matthew,    Judas,    Simon    the 
Zealot,  and  Lebbaus. 

BARTHOLOMEW 

You  have  made  great  haste,  Matthew.  Have 
you  in  so  short  a  time  done  all  that  the  Mas- 
ter bade? 


JUDAS  85 

MATTHEW 

Every  jot  and  tittle  of  his  will  have  I  fulfilled. 
I  now  possess  naught  but  my  love  unto  him 
and  my  zeal  for  the  coming  Kingdom  of 
God. 

PHILIP 

And  now  you  are  rich  indeed! 

BARTHOLOMEW 
Whom  have  you  with  you? 

MATTHEW 
Those  whom  the  Master  bade  me  lead  to  him. 

JUDAS 

I  am  Judas,  the  merchant — and  these  be  my 
friends — Simon,  a  caravan  master,  who  be- 
longs to  the  sect  of  the  Zealots,  and  Leb- 
basus,  a  Levite,  who  officiates  at  the  Holy 
Temple  itself. 

[They    greet    each    other    in    Eastern 
fashion. 


86  JUDAS 

PHILIP 
And  you  come  to  join  the  Messiah,  brethren? 

SIMON 

For  that,  indeed,  and  for  no  other  reason,  have 
we  come. 

BARTHOLOMEW 

Behold  in  us,  then,  men  who  are  already  ac- 
cepted disciples  of  him  who  is  to  lead  Israel 
to  victory. 

PHILIP 

But,  at  this  time  of  great  joy  over  the  nearing 
deliverance  of  Israel  from  the  hands  of 
idolaters,  wherefore  come  ye  to  us  wearing 
rent  cloaks  and  in  mourning? 

LEBB^EUS 

Have  ye  not  heard,  then!  How  that  the  Ro- 
mans have  defiled  the  Holy  City  with  their 
ensigns  and  golden  images? 


JUDAS  87 

BARTHOLOMEW 

We  have  heard;  but  we  thought  it  not  seemly 
to  mourn.  It  is  the  Romans'  last  triumph. 
We  who  are  the  followers  of  the  Messiah 
who  comes  to  avenge  the  wrongs  of  Israel — 
we,  least  of  all,  should  mourn  over  present 
calamities! 

SIMON 

Where  is  this  wonderful  man? 

MATTHEW 

He  is  on  the  other  side  of  the  Lake,  whither 
he  has  withdrawn  to  pray  and  to  escape  the 
multitudes. 

JUDAS 

Escape  the  multitudes!  Has  he  then  incurred 
the  hatred  and  enmity  of  those  of  whom  he 
is  to  be  the  leader?  That  were  a  sorry  state 
of  affairs! 

LEBB^US 
Indeed,  that  it  were! 


88  JUDAS 

SIMON 

In  that  case  we  had  better  return  to  Jerusalem 
and  wait  yet  longer  for  the  coming  of  the 
Son  of  Man.  For  the  true  Messiah  is  to 
lead  the  people,  not  flee  from  them. 

PHILIP 

Be  not  hasty  in  your  misunderstanding.  The 
people  follow  after  him  because  he  cures 
them  of  their  sickness.  They  pursue  him 
from  place  to  place,  crying  out  to  be  healed, 
until  even  he  becomes  wearied.  For  if  they 
had  their  way  he  would  have  no  rest  by  day 
or  by  night. 

MATTHEW 

But  has  he  gone  away  alone?  He  must  take 
more  precautions !  The  Pharisees!  .  .  . 

BARTHOLOMEW 

No,  he  is  not  alone.  Peter,  James,  and  John 
are  with  him.  He  loves  them  best  of  all, 


JUDAS  89 

because  they  were  the  first  to  give  tip  all  for 
the  sake  of  the  Kingdom. 


LEBB^EUS 
And  why  have  ye  tarried  behind? 

SIMON 

Think  you  that  four  are  enough  to  withstand 
those  who  might  have  evil  designs? 

PHILIP 

They  would  not  dare  touch  a  hair  of  his  head 
because  of  the  people,  and,  besides,  he  bade 
us  remain  to  receive  you  on  your  arrival 
from  Jerusalem;  the  innkeeper  has  reserved 
room  for  four  at  his  request. 

MATTHEW 

But  how  knew  he  that  I  was  to  bring  three 
back  with  me  ?  I  myself  did  not  know.  And 
it  is  by  merest  chance  that  we  came  together. 


9O  JUDAS 

PHILIP 

I  know  not  how  he  knew,  other  than  that  he 
knows  and  foresees  all  things.  He  some- 
times frightens  us  all  with  the  power  God 
has  given  him. 

JUDAS 

Indeed  he  must  be  the  Messiah,  and  I  have 
made  no  mistake  leaving  Jerusalem.  He 
heals  the  sick.  He  sways  men  as  the  wind 
moves  among  the  reeds  in  the  marshes.  He 
defies  the  Pharisees  and  emerges  from  their 
hatred  unscathed.  It  is  surely  he  alone  who 
is  to  establish  the  Kingdom  of  God.  When 
he  returns  from  the  other  shore  of  the  Lake 
we  must  urge  him  to  lead  us  on  immediately 
to  Jerusalem.  There  is  no  time  to  be  lost, 
for  all  the  Jews  are  ready  now  at  almost 
any  time  to  break  forth  into  rebellion.  All 
they  need  is  One  sent  of  God  to  lead  them. 
The  time  of  the  Feast  of  the  Passover  draws 
nigh.  All  the  people  will  then  be  gathered 
together,  from  Lebanus  to  Idumea,  even 
unto  the  dispersed  among  the  Gentiles. 


JUDAS  91 

LEBB^EUS 

Yes,  after  the  recent  pollution  of  the  Temple 
the  people  will  readily  rally  under  any 
leader. 

[Enter  the  innkeeper. 

SIMON 

[To  the  innkeeper. 

We  have  travelled  hard  all  last  night  and  to- 
day. We  are  weary  and  would  rest. 

INNKEEPER 

I  have  no  room  for  you,  unless  ye  be  the  men 
the  Great  Healer  bade  me  prepare  for. 

PHILIP 
These  are  the  men. 

INNKEEPER 
Then  I  have  room. 


92  JUDAS 

JUDAS 

And  food?  We  have  come  a  long  way,  and 
are  an  hungred! 

INNKEEPER 

All  I  have  is  at  your  disposal.  Follow  me  and 
I  will  myself  see  to  it  that  you  find  rest  and 
refreshment. 

[Exeunt  Simon,  Lebbaus,  Matthew, 
Judas,  and  the  innkeeper.  Judas  turns 
and  speaks  from  door,  to  Bartholomew 
and  Philip,  ere  he  enters. 

JUDAS 

Brethren,  see  to  it  that  we  do  not  oversleep, 
and  have  the  Master  pass  us  by  and  go  on 
to  another  village.  For  I  have  heard  that 
it  is  his  wont  to  travel  about  from  place 
to  place. 

BARTHOLOMEW 

Be  not  uneasy.  Go  within  and  rest.  For  you 
will  need  rest  sorely  in  the  days  to  come,  me- 


JUDAS  93 

thinks.  There  are  days  of  trial  and  tribula- 
tion in  store  for  all  of  us,  times  of  tempta- 
tion and  despair  and  tribulation  of  spirit. 

PHILIP 

Go  within  and  possess  yourself  with  peace, 
Judas!  But  a  little  while  and  the  Master 
comes,  nor  will  we  fail  to  summon  you  when 
he  arrives. 

[Exit  Judas. 

BARTHOLOMEW 

I  like  his  eagerness,  and  his  desire  for  the 
Kingdom. 

PHILIP 
He  has  not  yet  been  tried  in  the  fire. 

BARTHOLOMEW 

There  is  not  one  of  us  has,  brother! 

[Enter  Simon,   Jude,   and  loses,   bro- 
thers of  Jesus. 


94  JUDAS 

[They  enter  at  right,  and,  as  Bartholo- 
mew and  Philip  are  in  background  by 
the  shore  of  the  lake,  the  latter  are  not 
seen  until  they  step  forward  and  make 
their  presence  manifest. 

SIMON 

He  is  nothing  but  a  half-brother  of  ours,  yet 
for  all  Judea  I  would  not  behold  him  come 
to  grief. 

JOSES 

What  makes  him  act  so  strangely,  to  leave  a 
good  home  and  steady  work — does  he  really 
think  himself  to  be  a  prophet  of  God,  as 
people  say  he  does?  He  used  to  be  an  in- 
dustrious carpenter,  like  the  rest  of  us,  until 
this  unsteady  madness  laid  hold  on  him. 

JUDE 

If  he  claimed  power  as  a  prophet  only — if  he 
would  stop  there,  I  would  myself  yield  him 
a  measure  of  belief. 


JUDAS  95 

JOSES 

And  that's  just  what  I  would  not  do!  Have 
we  not  lived  with  him  for  years?  Have  we 
not  seen  him  grow  into  manhood?  But 
does  he  claim  to  be  more  than  a  proph- 
et? ...  I  fear  your  answer. 

JUDE 
He  claims  to  be  the  Messiah. 


JOSES 

By  the  rod  of  Moses,  he  has  indeed  gone  mad! 
Who  ever  heard  of  a  carpenter  being  the 
Messiah!  Let  us  tarry  here  no  longer.  He 
will  be  stoned  to  death  for  blasphemy.  That 
will  be  the  end  of  it  all.  And  we,  if  we  re- 
main here,  we  will,  like  as  not,  be  caught  in 
the  net  of  the  same  fate  for  being  kinsmen 
of  his. 

[Philip    and    Bartholomew    come    for- 
ward. 


96  JUDAS 

PHILIP 

I  gather  from  what  you  were  saying  that  you 
be  brethren  of  the  Master? 


JOSES 
Master!     What  Master? 

BARTHOLOMEW 
Jesus,  the  Prophet  of  Nazareth. 

JUDE 

We  are  his  half-brothers.  Joseph,  the  carpen- 
ter of  Nazareth,  is  his  father,  by  a  second 
wife.  He  married  Mary,  our  stepmother, 
and  of  her  was  Jesus  born,  when  Simon,  the 
oldest  of  us,  was  over  ten  years  old. 

PHILIP 

Blessed  are  ye  above  all  men,  in  having  such  a 
brother ! 


JUDAS  97 

JOSES 

Cursed  are  we  above  all  men  in  having 
such  a  brother!  He  shirks  his  work 
at  the  carpenter's  bench  at  home;  he 
runs  abroad,  preaching  and  inciting  the  peo- 
ple to  tumult  and  discontent;  he  incurs  the 
enmity  of  all  classes  of  people  by  his  rash 
words — and  we,  his  kinsmen,  will  have  to 
suffer  along  with  him  when  he  brings  down 
ruin  upon  his  head.  Fingers  of  scorn  will 
be  pointed  at  us.  It  might  go  even  further. 
We  ourselves  might  be  involved  in  his  de- 
struction. 

BARTHOLOMEW 

But  do  you  not  believe  in  him?  Have  you 
not  heard  of  his  wonderful  healing  of  the 
sick? 

SIMON 

We  have  heard,  but  we  do  not  give  credence 
to  such  tales. 


98  JUDAS 

JUDE 

Indeed,  brother,  do  not  include  me  in  that.  I 
have  held  all  along  that  he  has  remarkable 
powers  and  that  he  is  a  holy  man,  wonder- 
fully gifted  of  God.  I  have  no  quarrel 
with  him  as  regards  his  prophesying  and  his 
healing  the  sick.  But  his  claims  to  Messiah- 
ship!  Probably  he  is  a  little  beside  himself 
in  that  respect. 

[To  Philip  and  Bartholomew. 

But  tell  me  where  he  is.  As  you  love  him,  I 
adjure  you  to  tell  me.  I  would  save  him 

1   from  the  Pharisees !    He  does  not  know  the 
danger  he  is  in. 

PHILIP 

He  is  not  in  as  much  danger  as  you  think.  The 
Pharisees  would  not  dare  maim  a  little  fin- 
ger of  his,  because  the  common  people  wor- 
ship him.  Great  multitudes  follow  him 
about.  All  the  other  prophets  spake  to 
the  powerful  and  mighty  ones  of  earth.  He 
alone  speaks  to  the  people. 


JUDAS  99 

JOSES 

Come,  we  care  not  about  that.  Where  is  he? 
Bring  us  to  him.  We  would  fetch  him  home 
with  us.  He  is  needed  at  home. 

SIMON 

Trust  not  too  much  to  the  multitudes.  They 
are  as  fickle  as  a  weather-cock. 

JOSES 

He  is  our  brother.  He  never  was  anything 
but  a  worker  in  wood,  and  now  he  spoils  a 
good  carpenter  for  a  poor  prophet. 

BARTHOLOMEW 

Surely  you  jest!  I  will  tell  you  that  I  have 
with  these  very  eyes  beheld  miracles  he  has 
performed.  Have  I  not  seen  him  heal  the 
sick,  restore  sight  to  the  blind,  and  cast  out 
devils?  By  these  signs  we,  his  disciples, 
know  of  a  surety  that  he  is  the  Promised 
One,  the  Saviour  of  Israel. 


ioo  JUDAS 

JOSES 

It  is  you  who  jest  in  telling  such  incredible 
tales.  He  is  our  brother,  Jesus.  .  .  .  He 
worked  at  the  same  bench  with  me  year  in 
and  year  out.  How  can  he  be  the  Messiah? 

BARTHOLOMEW 

Do  not  the  prophets  speak  of  the  Son  of  Man 
as  a  divine  being  incarnate  in  the  flesh  of 
humanity? 

PHILIP 
He  must  of  necessity  be  some  one's  brother. 

JOSES 

Well,  I  know  naught  of  such  high  questions. 
But  the  Rabbi  at  Nazareth  once  told  me 
that  the  Messiah  would  be  a  descendant  of 
King  David. 

JUDE 

Brethren,  marvel  not  at  what  I  say.  Jesus  does 
come  of  royal  lineage.  Mary,  our  step- 


JUDAS  101 

mother  and  his  mother,  2*5  a  descendant  of 
King  David.  Though  of  a  poor  family,  she 
has  royal  blood  in  her  veins,  though  she 
keeps  the  story  of  it  close  and  few  know 
of  it. 

BARTHOLOMEW 
Aye,  I  knew  so!     I  knew  so! 

JUDE 

[Continuing. 

Also,  brethren — you  must  needs  remember  how 
different  Jesus  always  was  from  the  rest  of 
us.  When  we  thought  of  nothing  but  gew- 
gaws and  playthings  he  used  to  sit  on  the 
hilltop  back  of  our  house,  amid  the  flowers, 
and  dream,  and  read  the  Scriptures.  Many 
a  time  he  said,  even  then,  strange  and  wise 
things  beyond  the  years  of  a  child.  And  I 
have  often  heard  him  talk  with  angelic 
presences  which  he  saw  and  conversed  with, 
but  which  remained  to  me  unseen  and  un- 
heard. He  once  told  me  that  he  had  seen 
and  conversed  with  the  angels  of  God. 


102  JUDAS 

SIMON 

I  see  that  you  seem  inclined  to  partake  of  the 
same  foolishness:  for  you  and  mother  Mary 
always  took  him  too  seriously. 

JUDE 

Mother  Mary  surely  believes  in  him.  She 
always  believed  him  to  be  the  Messiah. 
Once  she  told  me  of  a  strange  vision  vouch- 
safed her  ere  his  birth. 

SIMON 

And  why  did  not  Joses  and  myself  ever  hear 
of  all  this — of  Mary's  descent,  and  of  the 
vision? 

JUDE 

Because  you  would  have  scoffed  at  such  things 
then  as  you  do  now. 

JOSES 

Aye,  indeed,  we  are  not  so  easily  led  astray 
by  dreams  and  visions  seen  in  the  night. 


JUDAS  103 

SIMON 

Let  us  forget  this  nonsense.  I  care  for  Jesus 
because  he  is  my  brother,  and,  Messiah  or 
no  Messiah,  he  is  in  great  danger. 

JOSES 

He  has  gone  mad.  When  we  find  him,  where- 
in can  we  help  him?  Bethink  yourselves  if 
he  is  not  already  beyond  our  help.  Besides, 
all  we  can  do  for  him  is  to  give  him  warn- 
ing, for  if  we  brought  him  home  Nazareth 
would  not  receive  him  kindly.  The  last  time 
he  was  home  he  aroused  the  villagers  to 
fury  by  the  things  he  said  in  the  synagogue. 
Even  then  they  would  have  cast  him  from 
the  summit  of  that  very  hill  whereon  he 
used  to  stand  to  pray. 

JUDE 

Ah,  Joses,  there  you  touch  upon  a  mystery. 
You  yourself  must  confess  that  at  that  time 
he  exerted  a  strange  influence  over  those  who 
would  have  slain  him.  He  imperiously  bade 


IO4  JUDAS 

them  unhand  him  and  a  great  awe  over- 
came them  and  they  stood  aside,  letting  him 
depart  through  their  midst,  unharmed. 

JOSES 

As  they  would  do  with  anyone  reputed  to  be 
holy. 

JUDE 

Nay  I  It  struck  deeper  than  that!  I  almost 
believe  that  he  is  the  Messiah  he  claims 
to  be. 

BARTHOLOMEW 

[Eagerly  to  Jude. 

Only  remain  with  us  till  he  comes  from  across 
the  lake.  You  cannot  help  but  believe  in 
him  when  you  behold  the  power  in  his  face. 
And,  till  he  comes,  Philip  and  I  will  dis- 
course with  you  at  large  on  the  wonders  he 
has  wrought. 

JOSES 
Old  wives'  tales! 


JUDAS  105 

SIMON 

So  say  I !  Come  on,  Jude.  Don't  be  a  fool. 
Leave  the  madman  to  his  fate.  There  is 
no  help. 

JUDE 

Brethren,  I  will  stay  and  see  Jesus  face  to  face 
before  I  decide  against  his  claims.  But  go 
ye  home.  Father  will  need  you  at  the  bench. 

JOSES 

Aye ! — for  there  are  houses  to  build  and 
gain  to  be  made — and  much  talking  and 
prophesying  builds  no  houses.  Come, 
Simon ! 

[Exeunt  Joses  and  Simon. 

[Philip  and  Bartholomew  embrace  and 

kiss  Jude. 

PHILIP 

Welcome,  brother  of  the  Lord! 

BARTHOLOMEW 
Welcome,  in  the  name  of  the  Messiah! 


io6  JUDAS 

PHILIP 

Let  them  go  and  build  their  houses  of  wood 
and  stone.  But  there  are  greater  things  to 
be  builded — the  Kingdom  of  God  I  With  the 
Master  we  are  to  be  joint  builders  of  the 
New  Jerusalem  of  which  the  prophets 
spake ! 

[Re-enter  Judas. 

JUDAS 

Will  the  Master  never  come?  See!  It  is  rap- 
idly growing  dark! 

BARTHOLOMEW 

Why  do  you  not  stay  within  and  rest  while 
you  may? 

JUDAS 

I  cannot.  The  desire  to  meet  him  face  to  face 
consumes  me  like  a  fire.  Ah,  ye  know  not 
how  many  years  I  have  waited  his  coming  to 
the  world!  Simon,  Matthew,  and  Lebbaeus 


JUDAS  107 

sleep  within,  forspent  with  weariness.     But 
I  could  not  sleep. 

[To  Jude. 
Are  you,  too,  a  disciple  of  the  Master? 

JUDE 

I  am  his  brother.  I  arrived  but  recently  to 
warn  him  of  certain  perils  which  hung  over 
him. 

[A  light  is  seen  moving  far  out  on  the 
Lake.     Twilight  falls  rapidly. 

JUDAS 

Look !   A  light !    Is  that  not  he  ? 
[A  long  silence. 

PHILIP 

'Tis  the  light  of  some  fisherboat,  returning  be- 
lated after  a  day  of  arduous  toil. 

BARTHOLOMEW 

The  Galilean  fishers  never  work  so  late  unless 
it  be  the  time  of  the  full  moon.  To-night 
only  the  stars  are  in  the  sky. 


io8  JUDAS 

PHILIP 

The  moon  is  at  the  full  and  will  soon  rise. 

[During  the  conversation  a  boat  takes 
form  and  draws  up  on  the  beach.  The 
disciples  hasten  toward  it. 

JUDAS 
[Eagerly. 
Hail!  Master! 

FIRST  FISHERMAN 

Master  us   no   masters!      We   be   but   simple 
fisherfolk. 

SECOND  FISHERMAN 

But  the  master  whom  ye  expect  is  not  far  be- 
hind us,  in  company  with  three  others. 

BARTHOLOMEW 

[To  Judas. 

He  had  Peter,  James,   and  John  with  him — 
three  fishermen.     They  are  first  in  his  love 


JUDAS  109 

because  they  were  first  to  give  up  all  they 
had  and  follow  him.  When  he  goes  apart 
to  pray  they  always  go  with  him. 

[The  fishermen  draw  the  boat  up  on 
the  beach,  drag  out  the  nets,  and  pre- 
pare to  go. 
[Another  light  is  seen. 

JUDAS 

Lo !    Yon  moves  another  light. 

[Moving  across  to  the  door  of  the  inn. 
I  must  wake  those  who  sleep  within. 

[Exit  Judas. 

FIRST  FISHERMAN 
Yes.     That  is  he! 

SECOND  FISHERMAN 

Let  us  wait  here  until  he  comes  ashore.  Let 
us  ask  him  where  to  cast  our  nets  to-morrow. 
He  might  reward  us  with  another  big  haul. 
We  have  had  no  luck  since  morning. 


no  JUDAS 

PHILIP 

[To  fishers. 

You  must  not  ask  him  to-night.     He  will  be 
too  tired. 

FIRST  FISHERMAN 

Very  well!     Does  he  lodge  here? 
[Pointing  at  inn. 

BARTHOLOMEW 

Yes. 

SECOND  FISHERMAN 

We  will  see  him  the  first  thing  in  the  morning. 

FIRST  FISHERMAN 

And  he  need  not  be  chary  of  us.     We  will 
divide  up  the  profits  with  him.     We  will 
show  him  that  we  appreciate  his  help. 
[Exeunt  fishers. 

[Re-enter  Judas,  accompanied  by  Mat- 
thew, Lebbaus,  and  Simon  the  Zealot. 


JUDAS  in 

It  rapidly  grows  dark,  until  only  the 
vague  outlines  of  the  disciples  are  visi- 
ble. They  are  dimly  seen  to  crowd 
down  to  the  beach  as  the  light  ap- 
proaches. One  standing  clad  in  white 
is  seen  in  the  bow. 


SIMON 

Judas !    He  comes !     Yonder  comes  the  Deliv- 
erance of  Israel! 

[The  disciples  form  in  reverent  ranks 
on  either  side,  as  the  One  in  White 
steps  from  the  boat.  He  walks  silently 
and  majestically  across  the  stage  and 
In  at  the  door  of  the  inn. 

VOICES  OF  THE  DISCIPLES 

"Rabbi  I"     "Master  1"     "Messiah !" 

[Peter,  James,  and  John  draw  up  the 
boat  on  the  beach.  John  goes  into  the 
inn  after  Christ.  Peter  and  James 
bide  without. 


ii2  JUDAS 

MATTHEW 

Why  came  ye  across  so  late?  We  expected 
you  ere  sunset. 

JAMES 

We  prayed  apart  but  an  hour,  when  many  of 
the  multitude,  having  procured  boats,  found 
out  whither  we  had  gone  and  came  upon 
us.  Then  the  Master  had  compassion  on 
them,  wept  strangely,  and  must  needs  preach 
to  them.  This  is  what  delayed  us. 


PETER 

He  preached  from  the  hill-top,  whither  we 
had  retired.  The  multitude  filled  the  valley 
below. 

JAMES 

He  said  many  wise  and  wonderful  sayings. 
Never  have  I  heard  rabbi  or  scribe  so  elo- 
quent as  he. 


JUDAS  113 

PETER 

And  after  the  Master  had  finished  talking,  he 
healed  divers  of  their  ills.  And  before  we 
knew  it,  the  sun  was  hidden  behind  the  pur- 
ple summits  of  Carmel,  and  the  blue  smoke 
of  twilight  was  filling  the  world. 

PHILIP 
Where  are  the  multitudes  now? 

PETER 
Look!     On  the  Lake!     There  they  come! 

JAMES 

Aye !  Here  they  come,  following  closely  after 
us. 

LEBB^EUS 

The  Lake  seems  to  be  sprinkled  full  of  golden 
stars ! 

[The  Lake  is  seen  to  be  full  of  moving 

lights. 

[Re-enter  John. 


ii4  JUDAS 

JOHN 

The  Master  wishes  to  see  the  three  new  disci- 
ples from  Jerusalem. 

[Exeunt  Lebbtfus,  Judas,  Simon,  into 

the  inn.    John  remains. 

PETER 

[Pointing  to  the  moving  lights. 
Look,  John.     The  multitudes  still  follow  us. 
They  seem   never   to   hear  enough   of  the 
Master's  words,  nor  to  have  enough  of  his 
presence. 

JOHN 

I  must  beg  them  to  let  the  Master  rest.     He 
is  weary  with  the  long  day. 

PETER 

[With  suppressed  impatience. 
They  seem  to  think  that  he  needs  neither  food 
nor  sleep.    They  think  that  he  is  altogether 
superhuman  and  in  no  wise  as  they  are. 


JUDAS  115 

JOHN 

[Moved. 

The  poor  children!  The  poor  lost  sheep  of 
Israel! 

[The  boats,  with  lights,  draw  closer 
and  closer.  Some  land  on  the  beach 
at  back,  some  scatter  to  left  and  right 
and  land  where  the  beach  is  not  visi- 
ble. Then,  from  all  entrances  pilgrims 
overwhelm  the  stage.  The  moon  rises 
from  over  the  Lake.  In  the  white 
ghostly  light  of  it  are  seen  sick  men 
borne  on  pallets,  men  with  crutches, 
blind  men  being  led,  etc.  Several  blind 
men  grope  to  front  alone. 

A  FORMER  PARALYTIC 

Glory  to  the  God  of  Israel !  I  walk  for  the 
first  time  in  years!  He  but  commanded  me 
to  walk,  and  it  was  accomplished! 

ONE  FORMERLY  BLIND,  Now  Seeing 

And  I  see  for  the  first  time  in  years !  Ah,  yon 
is  the  moon  of  my  childhood  .  .  .  and  there 


n6  JUDAS 

it  has  been  for  years,  and  I  saw  it  not  in  my 
blindness  until  this  night.  It  covers  all  the 
face  of  the  earth,  and  the  bosom  of  the 
dancing  waters  of  the  Lake,  with  its  glory — 
I  thank  thee,  Godl 


A  BLIND  MAN,  Groping  About 

Ah,  would  that  I,  too,  might  see  the  moon! 
I  have  never  seen  it,  nor  the  flowers,  nor 
the  birds,  nor  the  green  fields,  in  all  my 
life! 

A  PILGRIM 

Brethren,  he  whom  we  seek  is  within  the  inn. 
He  came  over  in  a  boat  just  a  little  ahead 
of  us.  But  we  must  not  all  crowd  into  the 
inn  together.  Let  a  few  of  us  enter  and  im- 
plore him  to  come  out  and  have  compassion 
on  the  afflicted. 

[Enter  the  innkeeper,  attracted  by  the 
hubbub,  his  temper  considerably  ruf- 
fled. 


JUDAS  117 

INNKEEPER 

Indeed,  and  ye  shall  not  come  in,  either  sev- 
erally or  together!  Unless  you  have  lodg- 
ings here,  none  of  you  shall  come  in. 

A  VOICE 
But  we  will  go  in! 

ANOTHER  VOICE 
We  would  see  the  Master! 

ANOTHER  VOICE 

If  you  do  not  wish  us  to  go  in,  let  him  come 
unto  us. 

JOHN 

[From  near  steps  of  the  inn. 
Good  people!  Even  the  Great  Healer  of 
men's  ills  is  at  times  in  need  of  rest  and 
space  of  leisure.  His  power  cannot  always 
go  out  of  him  without  replenishment.  Will 
you  not  allow  him  who  has  done  so  much 
for  you  time  for  sleep  and  refreshment? 


n8  JUDAS 

A  VOICE 

We  cannot  wait.  Some  of  us  are  at  the  point 
of  death. 

PETER 

[Testily. 

You  will  have  to  wait,  whether  you  will  or  no  I 

INNKEEPER 

A  little  more  of  this  unruliness  and  I  shall  call 
on  the  Roman  centurion  for  help.  He 
stands  ever  ready  to  put  down  tumults. 

JOHN 

[To  Peter,  who  is  about  to  speak  an- 
grily, laying  his  hand  on  his  arm. 
Peace,  Peter!     Govern  your  temper.     Remem- 
ber that  you  are  no  longer  Peter  the  fisher- 
man, but  Peter,  the  disciple  of  the  Messiah! 

PETER 

I  can  hardly  contain  myself  with  such  an  in- 
considerate folk.  The  Master  has  already 


JUDAS  119 

drawn  on  his  power  to  the  uttermost  for 
them.  And  they  neither  show  gratitude  nor 
bate  one  jot  of  their  importunity. 

INNKEEPER 

[To  Peter. 
Shall  I  send  for  the  Romans? 

PETER 
No. 

[To  the  people. 

Good  folk,  be  reasonable.  Wait  till  morning, 
and  the  Master  will  heal  you  once  more. 

A  LEADER  OF  THE  PEOPLE 

[Turning  to  assemblage. 

Perhaps  it  would  be  better  to  wait  till  to-mor- 
row! Remember,  he  has  already  done 
much  for  us.  So  let  us,  each  one,  disperse 
till  daybreak. 

A  PILGRIM 

Well,  then,  I  am  willing  to  wait,  though  I  suf- 
fer grievously,  and  cannot  sleep. 


I2O  JUDAS 

THE  LEADER 

Come,  then,  let  us  all  go  apart  and  rest. 
[Exeunt  pilgrims. 


INNKEEPER 

I  was  never  so  pestered  in  all  my  life.    I  never 
saw  anything  like  this,  excepting  when 


PETER 

It  is  too  late  for  the  spinning  of  endless  tales. 
[To  John. 

Let  us  within  and  snatch  what  rest  we  can. 

[Exeunt  innkeeper,  John,  and  Peter. 
Enter  Hillel  and  Ezra,  two  Pharisees. 
They  cast  a  few  pebbles  against  the  side 
of  the  inn.  Enter  servant  of  the  inn- 
keeper. 

EZRA 

[To  servant. 
Have  you  done  as  we  required  of  you? 


JUDAS  121 

SERVANT 
[Bowing  low. 
Yes,  Rabbi. 

EZRA 

[To  Hillel,  vehemently. 

And  now  shall  we  bring  to  a  speedy  end  this 
reviler  of  our  sect — this  pretender  who 
stops  not  at  any  blasphemy  against  the  Law 
and  the  Prophets  and  the  person  of  Jehovah 
himself,  so  long  as  it  subserves  his  vile  pur- 
poses! 

HILLEL 

I  cannot  understand  why  the  Council  had  not 
long  ere  this  brought  this  fellow  to  sudden 
account. 

EZRA 

They  are  just  men,  and  Justice  must  be  sure 
of  herself  and  move  slow. 

HILLEL 

Let  those  in  authority  beware  lest,  with  their 
tardy  sessions,  they  let  him  slip  through  their 
fingers. 


122  JUDAS 

EZRA 

This  time  we  will  make  sure  that  he  has  no 
loophole  of  escape.     All  Israel  will  join  in 
thanking  us  for  our  rapid  action. 
[To  servant. 

Have  you  ascertained?     Is  he  now  within? 

SERVANT 
[Bowing. 

He  abides  within,  master.     Did  I  not  inform 
you  yesterday  that  he  lodged  here? 

HILLEL 
But  that  is  not  now. 

SERVANT 

Not  less  than  an  hour  ago  he  returned  from 
the  other  shore  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee. 

EZRA 

How  many  accompany  him? 


JUDAS  123 

SERVANT 

Twelve.    I  would  warn  you  to  beware  of  them. 
Many  of  them  are  rough  fishermen. 

HILLEL 

We  will  not  soil  our  hands  with  them.      The 
soldiers  will  quickly  put  their  violence  down. 

EZRA 
How  long  has  he  been  within? 

SERVANT 
But  a  little  while. 

HILLEL 

I  mean  how  long  has  he  made  this   inn  his 
abiding  place? 

SERVANT 
Ten  days. 

EZRA 

And  has  he  during  that  time  broken  any  of  the 
laws  of  Moses? 


124  JUDAS 

SERVANT 

All  of  them,  Rabbi !  He  calls  himself  Sent  of 
God,  and  yet  he  sits  at  meat  with  publicans, 
harlots,  and  sinners.  He  regards  not  the 
Sabbath  day.  He  says  that  man  was  not 
made  for  the  Sabbath,  but  the  Sabbath  for 
man;  and  once,  when  one  of  your  holy  sect 
rebuked  him  for  his  loose  manner  of  living, 
he  replied  that  he  came  to  heal  the  sick,  not 
the  well! 

HILLEL 

He  is  a  blasphemer.  The  man  exceeds  all 
bounds. 

[To  servant. 
Where  lodges  he? 

SERVANT 

In  the  room  that  opens  on  the  shore. 

EZRA 

That  is  enough.  You  may  go  now — and  God 
and  the  local  Sanhedrin  will  reward  you.  I 


JUDAS  125 

will  bring  the  matter  of  your  service  up  be- 
fore the  next  meeting  of  the  Council. 

SERVANT 

May  God  bless  you  with  old  age,  masters. 
[Exit. 

EZRA 

And  now  to  the  centurion's  house ! 


HlLLEL 

Have  we  sufficient  grounds  of  complaint  to 
warrant  Roman  interference?  The  laws 
that  this  man  has  broken  are  religious,  not 
political. 

EZRA 
Do  not  his  disciples  hail  him  as  the  Messiah? 

HlLLEL 

Then  we  can  easily  prove  that  he  seeks  to 
raise  a  tumult.  And  he  is  dangerous.  We 
must  no  longer  delay.  The  time  of  the  Pass- 


i26  JUDAS 

over  draws  nigh,  and  if  he  goes  down  to 
Jerusalem  to  inflame  the  multitude  against 

us  there 

HILLEL 

They  will  stone  him  to  death  1 

EZRA 

They  will  not  stone  him  to  death.  Has  any- 
one cast  a  stone  at  him  yet?  And  he  has 
already  turned  hundreds  against  us — for  he 
is  a  man  of  great  power. 

[Re-enter  servant,  hastily. 

SERVANT 

While  passing  by,  I  heard  them  talking  apart 
and  listened  closely  to  their  conversation. 
And,  oh,  masters,  they  are  on  the  eve  of 
starting  a  great  uprising.  I  heard  them 
speaking  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel,  and 
how  each  one  of  the  twelve  disciples  was  to 
be  governor  over  a  tribe.  And  the  Wonder- 
worker himself  claimed  direct  command 
from  God.  He  is  to  be  King  I 


JUDAS  127 

EZRA 

Enough !  Come  with  us.  You  must  repeat 
this  in  the  presence  of  the  Roman  com- 
mander. When  he  has  heard  of  this  he  will 
take  the  carpenter  of  Nazareth  into  custody 
immediately. 

[Exeunt  Pharisees  and  servant.    Enter, 
from  the  inn,  John  and  Judas. 

JOHN 

You  were  a  long  time  with  the  Master  alone ! 
'Tis  a  privilege  vouchsafed  to  few. 


JUDAS 

Yes,  I  was  with  him  a  long  time.  We  talked 
of  many  things. 

JOHN 

Tell  me,  I  pray  you,  what  you  talked  about. 
I  am  eager  to  hear  every  word  that  falls  like 
a  pearl  from  his  lips. 


128  JUDAS 

JUDAS 

As  soon  as  I  came  into  his  presence,  he  arose 
from  the  couch  on  which  he  reclined,  and 
took  my  hand,  calling  me  by  my  proper 
name.  He  told  me  all  that  I  ever  did. 
Hail,  richest  and  poorest  man  in  all  Judea ! 
— thus  he  greeted  me. 

I  am  indeed  the  richest  man  in  Judea,  accord- 
ing to  mouth-to-mouth  rumor,  I  replied — 
But  poorest  also?  How  can  that  be?  I 
beg  you  to  unfold  the  meaning  of  your  dark 
saying,  Master! 

Poor  are  you,  Judas,  in  things  of  the  spirit, 
he  replied.  After  that  he  said  many  things 
which  I  cannot  understand.  Suffice  to  say 
that  his  wonderful  words  and  the  light  that 
shines  forth  from  his  face  have  convinced 
me  that  he  is  the  Messiah  for  whom  Israel 
waits — but 

JOHN 

And  why  stumble  you  over  that  last  word  as 
a  blind  man  stumbles  over  a  stone? 


JUDAS  129 

JUDAS 

One  thing  he  bade  me  do,  the  reason  for  which 
I  cannot  comprehend.  When  I  offered  him, 
for  his  own  use,  all  my  wealth  (and  it  was 
no  easy  thing  for  me  to  do  that),  he  bade 
me  return  with  him  to  Jerusalem,  sell  all  I 
had,  and  give  the  gold  to  the  poor.  Not 
until  then  can  you  become  a  true  disciple  of 
mine,  he  said.  And  when  I  expressed  my 
willingness  to  obey  him,  but  begged  him  to 
let  me  rather  hire  soldiers  and  bribe  officials 
with  the  money,  that  he  might  the  more  eas- 
ily win  to  the  throne  of  David,  he  shook  his 
head,  smiled,  and  answered  not. 

JOHN 

The  cause  of  God  needs  faith,  not  gold!  Be- 
think you  of  the  story  of  Gideon — how, 
with  a  handful  of  warriors,  he  won  victory 
over  a  great  multitude,  because  God  fought 
on  his  side.  Are  you  not  familiar  with  the 
prophecies  which  tell  of  the  coming  of  the 
Son  of  Man! 


130  JUDAS 

JUDAS 

Yes,  and  those  same  prophecies  tell  how  God 
chooses  to  work  His  will  through  man  and 
the  Power  of  men. 

JOHN 

True.  Through  men  who  are  all  aflame  with 
the  vision  of  the  coming  glory  of  the  King- 
dom of  God.  But  not  through  Mammon 
and  the  strength  of  mercenaries  whose  souls 
are  not  one  with  ours. 

JUDAS 

Then  must  the  Master  bide  his  time  till  he 
has  a  sufficient  following  of  those  who  be- 
lieve in  him. 

JOHN 

Ah,  you  begin  to  see  aright,  and  not  perversely, 
after  the  manner  of  men.  Nor  will  the 
Messiah  need  such  a  great  band  of  followers 
as  you  deem.  Perhaps  we  twelve,  at  the 


JUDAS  131 

appointed  time,  might  be  transferred  into  a 
host.  With  the  omnipotent  arm  of  God 
sweeping  in  the  van  of  the  battle;  with  the 
cohorts  of  the  seraphim  coming  to  our  aid, 
we  might,  indeed,  trample  the  kings  of  the 
world  like  dust  beneath  our  feet. 

JUDAS 

In  that  case  I  am  willing  to  sell  all.  Forgive 
me  my  blindness.  But  somewhat  I  must  re- 
serve of  my  wealth,  for  the  comfort  of  the 
Master  and  ourselves,  O  John! 

JOHN 

Nay,  not  even  that — God  will  provide,  does 
provide,  for  us  from  day  to  day.  Ah,  Ju- 
das, your  love  is  great,  but  it  is  blind  like 
the  love  of  the  Greeks! 

JUDAS 

I  call  Jehovah  to  witness  how  I  love  this  Man 
of  Nazareth  .  .  .  yet,  I  confess  I  hardly 
grasp  his  intent.  But  he  who  heals  the  sick 


132  JUDAS 

and  knows  all  things  cannot  be  at  fault.     It 

is  /  who  am  at  fault. 

[Enter     Simon,     hurriedly     and     per- 
plexed. 

SIMON 
[To  John. 
The  Master  would  see  you  within. 


JOHN 

He  must  not  consume  himself  like  this.  Be- 
tween his  disciples  and  those  who  would  be 
healed,  he  gets  no  rest.  I  am  anxious  for 
him.  For  to-morrow  we  have  a  long 
journey. 

[Exit  John. 

JUDAS 

[Eagerly  to  Simon. 
Well! 

[They  stare  at  each  other  fixedly  for 

a  space. 
Come!     What  think  you,  Simon? 


133 


SIMON 

That  he  is  the  Messiah.  I  do  not  doubt  that. 
He  had  me  alone  with  him  but  now  !  Ah, 
he  is  wonderful  —  yet  - 

JUDAS 
Ah,  what  inexplicable  thing  has  he  required  of 


you? 


SIMON 


Something  I  cannot  understand.  He  is  to  be 
King  of  the  Jews:  that  means  that  he  must 
first  expel  the  Romans  from  Judea.  And 
yet  he  bade  me  cast  away  my  dagger. 

JUDAS 

That  one  with  the  jewelled  hilt  which  was 
given  you  when  you  joined  the  Zealots? 

SIMON 

The  same.  The  one  that  John  of  Giscala  gave 
me.  With  it  have  I  full  often  avenged 
desecrations  of  the  Laws  of  God. 


134  JUDAS 

JUDAS 

But  why  did  he  bid  you  cast  it  away?  Did  he 
give  any  reasons? 

SIMON 

None  beyond  a  dark  saying.  As  soon  as  I 
came  before  him  he  asked  me,  Simon,  my 
son,  what  is  that  which  you  carry  in  the 
folds  of  your  bosom? 

Nothing,  Master,  I  replied. 

Nay,  hold  it  forth,  he  returned. 

I  have  naught  but  a  dagger,  I  admitted. 

I  drew  it  forth. 

See — it  is  dark  with  blood!  he  exclaimed. 

Nay,  you  mistake,  I  replied.  I  polish  it  every 
day. 

The  same  blood  that  darkens  the  blade  of  this 
dagger  also  darkens  your  soul,  he  said,  his 
voice  quivering  like  a  woman's  with  a 
strange  pity.  Come!  he  commanded;  come! 
We  opened  a  door  and  stepped  out  into  the 
moonlight.  The  waters  of  the  Lake  spar- 
kled at  our  feet.  Fling  it  far,  he  suddenly 


JUDAS 135 

commanded,  turning  sternly  upon  me;  fling 
it  far  out — let  it  be  lost  to  the  clasp  of  your 
hand  forever!  I  obeyed  like  one  in  a 
dream.  It  flew  from  my  hand,  and  scat- 
tered as  it  were  a  shower  of  diamonds 
when  it  smote  the  waves.  My  dagger, 
which  was  consecrated  to  the  avenging  of 
the  wrongs  of  Israel! 

Those  that  use  violence  perish  by  violence,  he 
told  me  as  I  left  him,  troubled  at  heart. 


JUDAS 

Simon,  I,  too,  was  troubled  at  heart  as  I  left 
him.  He  bade  me  give  up  all  my  wealth 
to  the  poor. 

[They  stare  at  each  other  dumbly  for 
a  moment. 

SIMON 

What  does  this  all  mean?  Does  he  hope  to 
win  the  Kingdom  for  God  without  swords, 
without  money — with  the  naked  hand? 


136  JUDAS 

JUDAS 

Simon  I  We  must  not  doubt!  Perhaps  he 
leans  wholly  on  the  Power  of  God,  as  did 
our  Fathers.  Perhaps  he  has  strength  and 
power  which  we  as  yet  wot  not  of  1 

SIMON 

Well,  anyhow,  in  spite  of  temporary  misgiv- 
ings, I  am  satisfied  that  he  knows  best.  He 
must  have  unsuspected  sources  of  Power  to 
draw  from,  as  you  suggest.  We  must  trust 
him,  and  sweep  on  to  victory  under  his  ban- 
ner. Then,  after  he  sits  on  the  throne  of 
Israel,  will  come  our  reward.  You  will  get 
a  province  in  place  of  the  loss  of  your 
wealth.  I  shall  govern  a  tribe.  We  are 
twelve.  There  are  twelve  tribes  in  Israel. 

JUDAS 

What  mean  you?  That  each  of  the  twelve 
followers  of  the  Master  is  to  rule  over  a 
tribe? 


JUDAS  137 

SIMON 

The  very  same.  James,  one  of  the  sons  of 
Zebedee,  confided  in  me  to  that  effect  while 
you  were  closeted  with  the  Master. 

JUDAS 

But  does  the  Master  confirm  this  with  his  own 
words? 

SIMON 

I  do  not  know.  But  at  some  time  he  must 
have.  Why  else  should  he  have  chosen  just 
twelve,  and  no  more? 

[Enter,  in  moonlight,  Sabinus,  the  Ro- 
man centurion,  cloaked. 

JUDAS 

[Wheeling  on  him. 
What  would  you,  sir? 

SABINUS 

I  seek  a  man,  one  Jesus.  He  who  heals  the 
sick  and  condemns  the  Pharisees. 


138  JUDAS 

SIMON 
Have  you  aught  to  be  healed  of? 

SABINUS 
I  come  not  to  be  healed. 

JUDAS 

Then  what  would  you  with  the  Master,  and 
why  do  you  affect  such  mystery  of  manner? 

SABINUS 

[Throwing   back   cloak    and   revealing 
himself. 

I  am  Sabinus,  the  Roman  centurion  in  charge 
of  the  troops  here  at  Capernaum. 

SIMON 

Then  you  come  to  take  him  prisoner! 

[Clutching  where  he  formerly  kept  his 

dagger. 

[  To  Judas. 
Alas,  I  have  thrown  it  away  I 


JUDAS  139 

SABINUS 

If  I  come  to  take  him,  why  have  I  come  alone? 
Tell  me,  where  is  he? 

JUDAS 

[Hesitating. 
He  is  not  within. 

SABINUS 
I  mean  him  no  harm.     Answer  me  truly. 

JUDAS 
Well,  he  is  within,  then,  if  you  would  know. 

SABINUS 

Go   inform   him   that   Sabinus,    the   centurion, 
would  speak  with  him  immediately! 

[Exit   Simon,    to    re-enter   almost   im- 
mediately. 

SIMON 
He  sleeps.     We  must  not  waken  him. 


140  JUDAS 

SABINUS 

Then  bring  me  one  of  the  fishermen  whom  he 
affects  the  most,  Peter,  or  John,  the  son  of 
Zebedee. 

[Exit  Simon,  to  re-enter  with  Peter. 

PETER 

Sabinus ! 

[They  embrace,  while  Simon  and  Judas 
look  on  in  wonderment. 
What  do  you  here? 

SABINUS 

Peter!  I  come  in  haste  to  warn  the  Master 
of  the  peril  that  hangs  over  him.  The 
Pharisees  have  informed  against  him.  They 
say  that  he  wishes  to  set  himself  up  as  the 
King  of  Judea.  In  consequence,  I  shall  be 
obliged  to  take  him  into  custody  this  very 
night.  But  he  who  has  healed  my  daughter, 
sick  unto  death — him  I  cannot  see  come  to 
harm.  Bid  him  leave  here  before  the  chang- 
ing of  the  watch. 


JUDAS  141 

PETER 

There  will  be  a  place  in  the  Kingdom  for  such 
as  you,  generous-hearted  Gentile! 

SABINUS 

I  am  not  bothering  about  this  Kingdom  you 
Jews  seem  to  be  so  fond  of  dreaming  about, 
this  Kingdom  half  in  heaven,  half  on  earth. 
Still,  your  Master  is  a  wonderful  man,  and 
the  gods  have  not  sent  him  into  the  world 
without  somewhat  of  a  divine  gift.  I  love 
him  for  what  he  has  done  for  me.  I  would 
save  him  from  mischance.  So  see  to  it  that 
he  is  warned — that  you  flee  the  place  im- 
mediately. I  now  go  to  perform  my  duty. 

PETER 
Your  duty? 

SABINUS 

[Martially  and  impersonally. 
My  duty  as  a  soldier  and  a  Roman.     If  the 
Healer  has  not  left  before  this  watch   ex- 


142  JUDAS 

pi  res,   I   must   come  with  my  soldiers   and 
take  him. 

[Exit  Sabinus. 

SIMON 
The  Romans  are  a  strange  people. 

PETER 
Thus  have  they  conquered  the  world. 

JUDAS 
But  whither  shall  we  flee? 

PETER 
To  JersualemI 

JUDAS 

Jehovah  must  indeed  be  with  us.  Never  could 
there  be  a  fitter  time.  The  city  will  be 
crowded  with  worshippers  at  the  Temple. 
A  word  from  the  Master  will  fill  them  all 
with  a  divine  fury. 

[The  moon  passes  behind  a  cloud. 


JUDAS  143 

PETER 

The  Kingdom  of  God  presses  upon  us. 

[Exeunt  all  into  the  inn.  After  a  space 
the  twelve  apostles  pass  across  the 
stage,  with  Christ,  dimly  seen,  at  their 
head,  and  disappear  to  the  right. 

CURTAIN 


ACT  III 

SCENE  I 

The  palace  gardens  of  Herod  at  Casarea 
Philippi.  To  left,  door  opening  onto  Herod's 
Palace.  To  right,  back,  stands  an  altar  to 
dpollo. 

Herod  and  his  chief  steward  discovered  at 
rise  of  curtain. 

HEROD 

See  that  the  banquet  be  prepared  at  the  ap- 
pointed time. 

STEWARD 

It  shall  be  ready,  honorable  Tetrarch. 

HEROD 

Broach   a   cask   of   my   finest   wine.      Set   the 
tables  with  the  golden  service  my  father  was 
wont  to  use  when  he  entertained  ambassa- 
dors of  the  first  rank  from  Rome. 
144 


JUDAS 145 

STEWARD 
As  you  command,  honorable  Tetrarch. 

HEROD 

Be  prepared  to  entertain  at  least  ten  more  at 
the  principal  table.  I  am  in  receipt  of 
news  that  Pilate,  the  Procurator  of  Judea, 
comes  to  visit  me. 

STEWARD 

You  shall  have  a  banquet  fit  for  the  palate  of 
the  Emperor  himself,  most  honorable  Tet- 
rarch. 

[Exit  steward. 

HEROD 

[Clapping  hands  In  summons. 
Slave! 

[A  pause. 
Slave ! 

[Sharper. 
SLAVE ! 


146  JUDAS 

[Enter  Zabdicl,  a  Jewish  slave. 
What,  Zabdiel,  dog  I     You  answer  tardily— 

you  deserve  to  be  whipped!     Bring  me  my 

morning  oblation! 

{Exit  slave,  to  return  shortly  with  a 
bowl  of  wine.  Herod  takes  the  howl, 
and,  crossing  stage,  halts  before  the 
altar  and  invokes  Apollo. 

HEROD 

Hail,  Apollo!  Bright  god  of  the  world's  glad- 
ness! To  thee  this  libation  I  pour.  Give 
ear  to  me,  child  of  Latona  and  brother  of 
Venus — give  ear  to  me,  and  banish  thou 
from  my  heart  this  melancholy  which  pos- 
sesseth  me.  Lift  from  my  soul  this  fear  of 
the  God  of  the  Jews.  Be  THOU  my  god, 
for  thou  art  the  king  of  gladness,  and  thy 
feet  move  ever  to  the  melody  of  many 
harps!  Hear,  O  Apollo,  hear! 

[Pours  libation,  and  hands  back  the 
empty  bowl  to  the  slave,  who  shudders 
as  he  takes  it. 


JUDAS  147 

HEROD 
Why  do  you  tremble,  knave? 

ZABDIEL 
I  am  a  Jew — I  fear  the  wrath  of  Jehovah! 

HEROD 

Apollo  is  greater  than  He! 

\Herod  also  shudders  involuntarily, 
then  angers  at  his  weakness  and  turns 
wrathfully  on  Zabdiel  to  hide  it. 

HEROD 

Avoid  my  sight!  I  will  henceforth  have  none 
but  Greeks  to  wait  upon  my  person.  For 
this  you  shall  forth  to  the  vineyards! 

ZABDIEL 
God's  will  be  done,  Master! 


148  JUDAS 

HEROD 

[  Threatening. 

Go!      I  like  not  your  countenance  of  gloom. 
But  the  Greeks  wear  cheer  on  their  faces! 
[Exit  Zabdiel. 

HEROD 

[Again  clapping  his  hands. 
Ho,  Antinous! 

[Enter,  with  alacrity,  the  Greek  slave, 
Antinous. 

HEROD 

Bring  hither  a  goblet  of  wine! 
[Exit  Antinous. 

HEROD 
[Solus. 

Yonder  comes  Pilate.  It  were  good  that  he 
come  upon  me  as  I  am  about  to  pour  a  li- 
bation to  Caesar! 

[Re-enter  Antinous,  with  wine. 


JUDAS  149 

HEROD 

[Taking  goblet. 

Antinous !  Where  were  you  when  I  summoned 
before? 

ANTINOUS 

I  was  weaving  chaplets  of  roses  for  the  feast — 
I  had  thought  Zabdiel 

HEROD 

[Interrupting. 

Zabdiel  goes  forth  to  the  vineyards!     Hence- 
forth you  are  to  attend  upon  my  person  en- 
tirely.    I  will  have  no  more  Jews  about  me! 
[Flourish    of    trumpets.     Enter   Pilate 
and  retinue,   as  Herod  stands,   goblet 
in  hand. 

HEROD 

[With  affected  surprise. 

Ah!  Procurator!  Welcome  to  Caesarea! 
Come !  Join  with  me  in  the  pouring  of  my 
daily  libation  to  Caesar! 


150  JUDAS 

PILATE 

Willingly.  But  let  me  pour  it.  It  is  befitting 
that  I,  being  Procurator  of  all  Judea,  and 
viceroy  of  the  Emperor,  should  do  so. 

[Herod  hands  over  the  goblet  to  Pilate. 


PILATE 

To  thee,  O  Emperor  1 

{Pouring  out  wine. 

Sole  representative  of  the  gods  on  earth,  mon- 
arch of  the  habitable  world,  thyself  a  god! 
Mayest  thou  live  and  rule  a  thousand  years 
of  peace,  and  may  thy  coffers  be  ever  filled 
with  tribute  of  gold  from  all  the  nations  I 

HEROD 
So  be  it  1 

RETINUE 
So  be  it! 

[Pilate  returns  the  cup  to  Herod,  who, 
in  turn,  hands  it  to  Antinous. 


JUDAS  151 

HEROD 

And  now,  friend  Pilate,  due  honor  having 
been  paid  the  Emperor,  whence  this  sudden 
visit?  Have  I  done  aught  that  Rome  mis- 
likes?  I  adjure  you,  by  our  former  friend- 
ship at  Rome,  to  tell  me. 

PILATE 

My  visit  has  naught  to  do  with  the  Emperor. 
I  have  come  on  a  mission  of  private  enter- 
prise. I  have  come  all  the  way  from  Jerusa- 
lem to  seek  advice  from  you  as  touching  a 
certain  matter.  I  am  more  a  soldier  than  a 
diplomat,  as  you  well  know,  and  am  not 
versed  in  the  nice  points  of  the  varying  cus- 
toms of  the  different  nations.  Readier  am  I 
with  the  sword  than  with  the  pen.  But  I 
had  always  prided  myself  on  my  knowledge 
of  men  and  my  ability  to  manage  them. 
[Sighs. 

However,  these  Jews  seem  to  be  a  class  of  men 
by  themselves ! 


152  JUDAS 

HEROD 
Ah! 

[Promts. 

I  understand.  You  have  run  counter  to  one  of 
their  many  superstitions  I 

PILATE 

I  shall  tell  you  in  few  words  my  difficulty.  But 
a  fortnight  ago,  while  stationed  at  Strato's 
Tower,  by  the  sea,  I  sent  ahead,  under  cover 
of  night,  the  ensigns  and  emblems  of  Roman 
sovereignty,  meaning  to  follow  by  daylight 
into  Jerusalem.  I  had  been  advised  by  those 
who  knew  somewhat  of  Jewish  character  not 
to  do  this.  I  was  told  lhat  such  an  act  would 
be  sure  to  cause  a  tumult.  But,  thought  I, 
why  should  a  people  which  has  become  sub- 
ject to  the  Emperor  quarrel  with  the  symbols 
of  his  sovereignty?  However,  as  events 
proved,  I  had  been  rightly  advised.  For, 
with  the  break  of  day,  the  news  of  what  I 
had  done  ran  about  the  country  with  in- 
credible swiftness.  Before  I  could  get  my 


JUDAS i£3 

soldiers  under  way,  hundreds  of  Jews  had 
already  arrived  from  Jerusalem,  to  protest 
against  what  they  called  a  sacrilege.  I  re- 
solved to  silence  their  clamor  with  a  show  of 
sternness.  I  threatened  them  with  death  if 
they  did  not  become  quiet.  At  a  given  sig- 
nal from  me  my  soldiers  surrounded  the 
multitude  and  menaced  them  with  the  naked 
sword.  I  cried  out  to  them  that  they  should 
either  admit  Caesar's  images  into  their  city 
or  be  there  cut  to  pieces:  then,  as  if  at  a 
signal,  they  all  fell  down,  bared  their  necks, 
and  cried  out  with  one  voice  that  they  would 
sooner  be  slain  than  have  their  Law  trans- 
gressed. What  can  one  do  with  such  a 
people? 

HEROD 

If  you  knew  the  Jews  as  well  as  I  do,  you 
would  not  marvel  at  this. 


PILATE 
Their  superstition  is  indeed  prodigious. 


154  JUDAS 

HEROD 

Their  religion  is  their  life,  Procurator.  My 
father  knew  well  how  to  manage  them.  He 
built  them  the  great  temple  at  Jerusalem — 
and  then  wrung  from  them  all  he  wished. 

PILATE 

You  mean  that  they  are  so  obstinate  that  they 
will  suffer  death  rather  than  concede  a  point 
of  their  Law? 

HEROD 

Have  you  not  recently  found  that  to  be  true? 
There  is  hardly  a  Jew  so  poor-spirited  but 
will  defy  the  whole  world  rather  than  break 
a  single  commandment  of  Moses,  their  Law- 
giver. Even  those  who  are  slaves  will  make 
trouble. 

PILATE 

With  such  a  spirit  how  have  they  become  a  con- 
quered people? 


JUDAS  155 

HEROD 

It  is  because  of  this  spirit  that  they  have.  No 
sooner  are  they  masters  of  themselves  than 
they  fall  to  fighting  among  each  other  as  to 
whether  the  Law  requires  that  both  the  wrists 
and  the  hands  ought  to  be  washed  before  eat- 
ing, or  the  hands  merely — or  some  such  triv- 
ial matter! 

PILATE 
They  are  a  nation  of  madmen! 

HEROD 

Aye !  And  those  who  rule  them  best  humor 
their  madness  and  take  advantage  of  it. 

PILATE 
As  a  soldier  it  irks  me  to  do  this. 

HEROD 

'Tis  the  only  course.  I  myself  have  had  my 
own  bitter  experience  in  running  counter  to 


156  JUDAS 

their  superstitions.  For  a  time  I  jeopar- 
dized my  very  life  by  having  had  the 
Prophet  John  beheaded. 


PILATE 

I  have  heard  somewhat  of  him:  he  lived  like 
one  possessed,  in  the  wilderness,  'tis  said; 
ate  locusts  and  wild  honey;  ran  half-naked; 
delivered  long  harangues  to  those  who  sought 
after  him.  And  you  put  him  to  death ! 
Why  did  you  do  so?  How  could  he  have 
harmed  you? 

HEROD 

He  continually  reviled  and  attacked  me  before 
the  people.  I  grew  afraid  of  his  power  and 
had  him  put  to  death. 


PILATE 

Grew  afraid  of  a  vagabond's  power!     Can  a 
beggar  so  sway  the  minds  of  men? 


JUDAS  157 

HEROD 

Yes!  here  in  Judea.  Thousands  would  have 
obeyed  his  least  command.  At  a  word  from 
him  my  life  would  have  been  forfeit.  For 
he  called  himself  the  Forerunner. 

PILATE 

I  am  puzzled.  The  Forerunner?  Of  what  or 
whom? 

HEROD 
Of  the  Christ. 

PILATE 

Ah !  Of  HIM  I  have  heard  somewhat,  too ! 
You  mean  that  he  claimed  to  forerun  and 
prepare  the  way  for  this  Christ,  this  king 
whom  the  Jews  expect!  And  do  they  mis- 
deem that  this  expected  king  of  theirs  can 
conquer  the  Romans? 

HEROD 

They  do.  For  he  will  be  more  than  a  mortal 
man.  He  will  be  what  the  Greeks  call  a 
demigod. 


158  JUDAS 

PILATE 

Somewhat  like  Hercules,  I  suppose.  With  us 
Romans,  gods  and  demigods  no  longer  walk 
the  world.  All  that  belongs  to  years  long 
past,  to  the  golden  age  of  which  our  poets 
sing. 

HEROD 

But  with  the  Jews  their  God  is  always  walking 
the  earth;  their  golden  age  is  yet  to  come. 

PILATE 

A  foolish  people  1 
[Suddenly. 
But,  tell  me,  you  affect  not  these  superstitions? 

HEROD 

[Hesitating. 

Nay.  I  am  more  a  Roman  than  a  Jew.  My 
family  is  Idumean.  But  for  policy's  sake  I 
make  an  outward  show  of  respect  toward 
their  traditions  and  beliefs. 


JUDAS  159 

PILATE 

Which  worship  you — the  gods  of  sensible  men, 
the  powers  of  nature,  the  deities  which  move 
the  sun  and  moon,  which  govern  the  tides 
of  the  sea,  the  growth  of  grain,  and  the  lives 
of  men — or  this  absurd  god  of  theirs,  whose 
works  are  inevident  and  invisible,  and  who 
has  neither  image  nor  sign  that  his  worship- 
pers may  know  him? 

HEROD 

Behold  this  altar  to  Apollo!  Is  not  that  an- 
swer enough? 

[Enter  captain  of  palace  guards. 

HEROD 

\^To  captain: 
What  would  you? 

CAPTAIN 

I  first  crave  your  pardon,  O  Tetrarch,  for  the 
news  that  I  bring. 


i 60  JUDAS 

HEROD 
'Tis  granted.     Say  on! 

CAPTAIN 

But  evil  are  the  tidings  that  I  bring  and  much 
to  be  wondered  at. 

HEROD 
Say  on!    You  shall  not  be  harmed. 

CAPTAIN 

[With  fear  in  his  voice. 
John  the  Baptist  has  risen  from  the  dead. 

HEROD 

[Shaking  with  fear. 

Why,  'tis  impossible!     I  saw  his  severed  head 
with  my  own  eyes — on  a  charger! 

[Turning  savagely  on  the  captain. 
You  lie!    What  new  conspiracy  is  this? 


JUDAS  i 6 i 

CAPTAIN 

[Flinging  himself  at  Herod's  feet. 
Remember  your  word,  master! 

HEROD 

[Recovering  himself  with  an  effort. 
Rise!     Fear  not! 

PILATE 

[To  captain. 

Why  come  you  to  us  with  such  an  absurd  tale? 
Risen  from  the  dead!  Who  ever  heard  of 
such  a  thing? 

CAPTAIN 
[Answering  Pilate. 


HEROD 

[Interrupting. 

I   saw  them  carry  the  body  out.      I   saw  his 
severed  head  with  the  eyes  shut. 

[Turning  infuriated  on  the  captain. 
Whence  have  you  this  dreadful  tale? 


i 62  JUDAS 


PILATE 

[Surprised  at  Herod. 

Dreadful  tale,  forsooth!  Then  you  give  cre- 
dence, O  Herod,  to  such  an  idle  rumor? 
Why,  in  Rome  we  would  have  had  this  man 
stripped  and  whipped  for  his  foolish  babble. 

HEROD 

[Obsessed  with  the  rumor;  not  heeding 
Pilate;  seizes  captain  by  the  wrist. 
Have  you  seen  him? 

CAPTAIN 

I  have  seen  him.  He  is  the  very  image  of  John 
the  Baptist.  There  could  be  no  mistaking 
him.  And  once  more  he  preaches  and  calls 
people  to  repentance. 

HEROD 

[Stricken  with  superstitious  terror. 
Where  bides  he  now? 


JUDAS  163 

CAPTAIN 
Here — in  Caesarea. 

HEROD 
Where  and  when  was  he  last  seen? 

CAPTAIN 

I  myself  saw  him  but  a  while  ago — in  the  gar- 
dens nigh  the  Temple  to  Pan. 

HEROD 

[Hoarsely  to  Pilate. 

Come,  let  us  go  within!     The  air,  methinks, 
has  turned  chill  of  a  sudden 

CAPTAIN 
Shall  I  see  to  it  that  the  guards  are  doubled? 

HEROD 

Who  can  guard  one's  self  against  a  man  who 
overcomes  death? 


164  JUDAS 

[At  this  juncture  the  captain  of  the 
guards  begins  to  stare  fixedly  into  the 
distance.  Herod  and  Pilate,  looking  in 
the  same  direction,  appear  transfixed. 

CAPTAIN 

[Awe-stricken. 
Yon  is  he,  with  his  disciples! 

HEROD 
Ah! 

[To  captain. 

Follow  him.  See  if  it  be  he  or  his  ghost.  But 
do  not  molest  him.  Would  I  had  not  slain 
him! 

[Exit  captain  of  the  guards. 

PILATE 

'Tis  a  monstrous  land  and  a  monstrous  people. 
In  Italy  I  would  have  laughed  at  this.  In 
Judea,  I  tremble!  I  am  already  myself  half 
a  Jew.  .  .  . 

[The  palace  door  is  flung  open.  Music 
heard  within.  Steward  appears. 


JUDAS  165 

CHIEF  STEWARD 

[Bowing  low. 

Master,  the  feast  is  prepared;  the  tables  are 
ready,  and  some  of  the  guests  have  already 
assembled. 

HEROD 

[Shaking  himself  free  from  the  Thing 

that  haunts  him. 

Come,  friends,  within  we  shall  have  companion- 
ship, the  latest  gossip  and  news  from  Rome. 
Wine !  Music ! 

[Exeunt  all  through  the  palace  door. 

SCENE  II 

Further  on  in  the  garden. 
John,  Thomas,  and  Peter  discovered  at  rise 
of  curtain. 

JOHN 

My  heart  is  desolate!  He  has  fled  from  even 
us,  in  whom  he  has  hitherto  been  wont  to 
trust  and  confide.  He  has  gone  to  the  moun- 
tain, alone,  to  pray. 


1 66  JUDAS 

PETER 

Be  of  good  cheer!  I  know  he  has  not  forsaken 
us. 

THOMAS 

It  seems  to  me  that  he  labors  under  great  tribu- 
lation of  spirit.  Where  be  those  who  he 
said  would  come  to  make  him  king? 

JOHN 
Be  assured;  they  will  come. 

THOMAS 

Yet  why  should  he  flee  these  men  who  would 
hail  him  as  king?  Is  not  that  the  mark  at 
which  he  has  aimed  these  several  years? 

JOHN 

In  the  fulfilment  of  his  time  he  shall  be  crowned 
— but  not  by  human  hands:  the  angels  of 
God  and  the  seraphim  will  crown  him. 


JUDAS  1 67 

THOMAS 

The  angels  and  the  seraphim  I  have  never  seen 
— and  until  they  flash  into  visibility  before 
my  very  eyes,  I  will  not  believe  that  any 
prophet,  however  great,  can  evoke  from  the 
sky  the  cohorts  of  God — not  even  the  Be- 
loved One! 

PETER 

Then  you  do  not  believe  in  him!  'Tis  incred- 
ible, after  all  you  have  seen. 

THOMAS 

All  I  have  seen  I  believe.  That  which  I  have 
not  seen  I  do  not  believe. 

JOHN 
You  believe  not  that  he  is  the  Messiah,  then? 

THOMAS 

I  would  indeed  rejoice  were  he  to  prove  himself 
the  Hope  of  Israel. 


i 68  JUDAS 

PETER 
Has  he  not  thus  far  fulfilled  all  his  promises? 

THOMAS 

Is  it  meet  that  the  God-appointed  King  of 
Israel  should  flee  for  his  very  life  from  the 
Pharisees  of  Jerusalem? 

JOHN 

When  the  fulness  of  his  time  comes,  he  will  not 
flee. 

THOMAS 

[Dejectedly. 
Will  it  ever  come? 

[A  pause. 

And  here  we  now  are,  put  to  flight  like  sheep 
before  wolves.  A  fine  way  to  begin  the 
Kingdom  1 

PETER 

Because  you  have  not  faith  you  will  not  turn 
traitor  and  desert  the  Master?  At  this  time 
of  times  when  he  needs  us  all  the  most? 


JUDAS  169 

THOMAS 

[Stung  to  the  quick. 

Nay!  I  will  follow  him  even  to  the  death — 
Prophet,  Healer,  Messiah — whatever  he 
prove  to  be! 

JOHN 

[Affected  by  the  sincerity  of  Thomas. 
Only  have   faith  in   him,   Thomas.      But,   lo! 
yonder  come  those  who  would  crown  him. 
[Enter  a  party  of  Galileans. 

PETER 

I  know  all  of  them.  They  are  fellow-citizens 
of  mine. 

FIRST  GALILEAN 

Ah,  Peter!    Where  bides  he  whom  you  follow? 

THOMAS 

[To  find  if  Christ's  prophecy  of  their 
coming  be  true. 
What  would  you  with  him? 


170  JUDAS 

FIRST  GALILEAN 

We  have  come  to  gladden  his  heart  with  a 
crown  of  gold. 

[Showing  crown. 

THOMAS 
By  whose  authority  would  you  crown  him? 

SECOND  GALILEAN 

By  the  authority  of  the  people  of  Galilee  who 
tire  of  paying  Roman  taxes  and  imposts. 
There  are  thousands  who  would  acclaim  him 
king,  if  we  but  crowned  him. 

FIRST  GALILEAN 

And  if  we  first  hail  him  as  such,  when  he  sits 
on  the  throne  of  all  Judea,  Galilee  and  its 
interests  will  be  first  in  his  heart. 

PETER 

Return  to  your  homes,  brethren,  for  know  that 
at  the  appointed  time  God  himself  will 


JUDAS  171 

crown  him,  after  a  wonderful  and  unheard- 
of  fashion. 

JOHN 

He  is  not  to  be  crowned  of  men,  but  through 
God.  He  saw  you  coming,  in  a  vision,  and 
fled  to  avoid  you. 

FIRST  GALILEAN 
He  saw  us  coming  and  fled  to  avoid  us,  did  he? 

SECOND  GALILEAN 

A  pretty  Messiah,  this — to  flee  from  the  crown 
he  coveted  and  fain  would  accept,  were  he 
not  too  weak  to  take  itl  Oh,  for  another 
Maccabee  to  fight  for  the  Cause  of  the  Chil- 
dren of  Israel,  as  of  yore! 

FIRST  GALILEAN 

And  now  we  plainly  see  that  he  is  not  worthy 
of  a  crown:  death  should  be  his  portion;  he 
has  deluded  half  of  Judea ! 


172  JUDAS 

SECOND  GALILEAN 

He  has  wrought  miracles  all  these  years  to 
none  effect 

FIRST  GALILEAN 

We  will  have  no  more  patience  with  him.    We 
will  seek  him  no  further.    He  is  an  impostor. 
[Exeunt  Galileans. 

THOMAS 

Behold!  By  that  you  can  see  how  the  people 
have  begun  to  feel.  Something  must  be  done 
soon,  or  we  shall  all  be  taken  and  crucified. 
We  shall  not  much  longer  be  permitted  to 
go  down  to  Jerusalem  in  a  body  for  festi- 
vals, with  the  Master  casting  words  about 
like  live  scorpions  and  the  bite  of  vipers. 
The  Pharisees  are  already  flayed  raw  by  his 
condemnation  of  them. 

[Peter  and  John  bow  their  heads,  sor- 
rowfully and  answer  nothing.  A  long 
silence  intervenes.  Thomas  paces  up 
and  down  in  sorrowful  thought. 


JUDAS  173 

PETER 
[To  John. 

'Tis  time  we  depart.  The  Master  bade  us 
meet  him,  with  James,  at  the  foot  of  the 
mount  whither  he  retired  to  pray. 

JOHN 

Yes,  'tis  time  for  us  to  go  to  him.     For  there 
is  a  new  thing  in  his  face  which  I  have  never 
seen  there  before,  and  which,  I  must  confess, 
fills  my  soul  with  a  strange  foreboding. 
[To  Thomas. 

Of  course  you  know  that  we  foregather  nigh 
the  temple  of  Pan,  at  sunset  to-day? 

THOMAS 
'Tis  well  you  informed  me.     I  knew  it  not. 

PETER 
The  Master  missed  you  the  other  day. 


174  JUDAS 

THOMAS 

That  was  three  days  ago,  when  I  discoursed 
all  day  with  the  priest  of  Pan  concerning 
the  nature  of  God.  I  have  found  that  he, 
too,  worships  a  God  who  is  One  and  whose 
Spirit  informs  All. 

PETER 

[Impatiently. 

Now  you  see  how  it  is!  You  leave  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Master  to  walk  and  talk  with 
the  Pagans.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  you  doubt 
him? 

JOHN 

Come,  Peter,  we  must  make  haste.  He  already 
expects  us. 

[Exeunt  Peter  and  John. 
[Thomas   pacing    backward    and   for- 
ward, immersed  in  deep  thought,  and 
sighing  from  time  to  time. 


JUDAS  175 

THOMAS 

[Solus. 

And  yet  not  John,  not  Peter,  not  James,  loves 
him  with  a  love  surpassing  mine.  But  I — I 
must  see — I  must  hear — I  must  feel — Ah, 
God,  have  mercy  upon  me! 

[Enter  Judas  and  Simon,  disconsolate. 

JUDAS 

[Almost  fiercely. 

Yea !  I  have  given  up  all  for  him — all — ALL — 
and  do  you  think  that  I  would  have  gone  to 
such  an  extreme  were  I  not  convinced  that  he 
is  the  One  who  has  come  to  lead  Israel  to 
victory  over  the  Gentiles? 

SIMON 

And  if  he  prove  after  all  not  to  be  the  Mes- 
siah ? 

THOMAS 

[Suddenly,  from  behind. 
Aye!    If  he  prove  not  to  be  the  Messiah! 


176  JUDAS 

JUDAS 

[Wheeling  on  him. 

I  know  that  he  is  the  Messiah,  because  of  the 
wonders  he  has  worked,  the  sick  he  has 
healed. 

THOMAS 

Then  why  this  delay,  this  hesitation  from  day 
to  day?  When  we  set  out  from  Capernaum 
at  the  time  of  the  last  festival,  to  go  down 
to  Jerusalem,  we  reeled  drunk  with  the  joy 
of  the  coming  Kingdom;  we  already  seemed 
to  see  the  circle  of  the  heavens  ablaze  with 
cohorts  of  seraphim  and  cherubim  clad  in 
celestial  armor.  At  that  time  I  did  not 
doubt.  I  had  no  reason  to  doubt.  But  what 
came  of  it  all?  A  few  disputes  with  the 
Pharisees,  the  healing  of  a  sick  man  here 
and  there — and  then  our  foes  began  to  close 
in  about  us — the  Lawgivers,  the  Pharisees, 
the  Sadducees — and  we,  WE,  the  followers 
of  him  who  would  be  King  and  Saviour 
of  Israel — yea,  he,  himself — fled  like  run- 


JUDAS  177 

away  slaves  who  take  to  the  wilderness  to 
escape  punishment  for  disobedience ! 

SIMON 
Judas!    What  have  you  to  answer  to  that? 

JUDAS 

Listen,  Thomas — for  you,  by  doubting,  have 
awakened  still  more  the  fire  within  me,  that 
began  to  smoulder  even  before  we  fled  from 
Jerusalem.  I  have  pondered  the  problem 
long,  and,  little  by  little,  it  has  been  given 
to  me  to  understand.  I  understand  all  now. 
Like  a  revelation  it  has  come  clear  to  me  on 
the  instant — why  the  Messiah,  the  Chosen  of 
God,  should  flee  from  before  the  wrath  of 
men.  It  is  the  care  of  the  world,  the  clogging 
of  the  flesh  in  which  his  being  moves,  that 
weakens  day  by  day  the  Power  within  him. 
So,  Chosen  of  Jehovah  though  he  be,  day  by 
day  his  light  darkens  and  wanes  in  the  night 
of  the  world's  unbelief! 

[With  great  earnestness. 


178  JUDAS 

It  is  we,  it  is  we,  who  must  urge  him  on  to  the 
fulfilment  of  that  for  which  he  came! 

SIMON 
And  how? 

JUDAS 

I  know  not  how  as  yet.  I  must  consider;  and, 
when  I  have  considered,  I  shall  not  palter,  I 
shall  act! 

THOMAS 

Sometimes  I  even  wish  that  we  might  forget 
the  Kingdom.  I  weary  of  all  this  travail. 
The  love  of  the  Master  is,  after  all,  enough 
kingdom  for  me. 

[Thomas  starts  to  leave. 

SIMON 
Thomas,  whither  wend  you? 

THOMAS 

I  go  to  hold  further  converse  with  the  priest 
of  Pan,  if  he  be  free  from  the  sacrifices  at 
this  hour. 


JUDAS  179 

JUDAS 

[With  all  the  religious  ferocity  of  the 
Jew. 
Idolater! 

THOMAS 
Why,  how  now,  Judas? 

JUDAS 

Go,  and  discourse  with  the  priest  of  Pan  con- 
cerning his  pagan  gods  of  wood  and  stone. 
Go,  bide  with  him  forever  since  you  dare 
to  doubt! 

THOMAS 

Nay,  I  dare  not  believe  what  I  begin  to  hope, 
what  I  begin  to  dream,  of  the  Kingdom ! 
[Exit  Thomas. 

JUDAS 

{With  great  fire. 

Simon!  Simon!  The  whole  world  shall  ring, 
if  I  succeed  in  that  which,  for  the  glory  of 


i8o  JUDAS 

God,  I  must  do!  But  are  you  strong  enough 
to  accept,  and  to  keep  this  thing  in  your 
heart? 

SIMON 

Have  I  not  been  your  lifelong  friend,  through 
good  and  ill? 

JUDAS 

You  must  keep  what  I  am  about  to  tell  you  as 
close  as  your  very  life.     It  is  this: 
[A  pause. 

Every  time  we  go  up  to  Jerusalem  the  Master 
is  wont  to  go  apart  with  the  favored  three, 
is  he  not,  and  pray  in  a  certain  garden? 

SIMON 

Aye  I  'Tis  called  the  Garden  of  Gethsemane. 
It  lies  toward  Bethany,  where  live  Lazarus 
and  his  two  sisters. 

JUDAS 

The  next  time  we  journey  down  to  the  Holy 
City  I  will  acquaint  the  High  Priest  with 


JUDAS  i 8 i 

this  custom  of  his.  Then  if  he  do  not 
immediately  call  down  the  Power  of  God 
and  vindicate  his  promises,  I  will  force  him 
to  do  so! 

SIMON 

[Taken  aback. 
But  that  would  be  betrayal! 

JUDAS 

'Twill  be  a  glorious  betrayal!  'Tis  a  strata- 
gem, which,  if  it  fail  not — and  it  cannot 
fail,  he  being  the  Chosen  One  of  God 

SIMON 

[Breaking  in  with  astonishment. 
Judas,  have  you  gone  mad? 

JUDAS 
[Rapt. 

Thus  at  a  single  stroke  I  will  betray  him  most 
gloriously  into  that  Kingdom  for  which  he 
came;  for,  caught  at  last  in  a  trap  from 


1 82  JUDAS 

which  there  is  no  escape  save  by  superhuman 
means,  he  will  hesitate  no  longer;  he  will 
withhold  his  divine  strength  no  more;  he 
will  pronounce  the  Mighty  Word,  the  night 
will  straightway  flash  everywhere  with  win- 
nowing wings  of  fire,  and,  at  that  moment, 
the  Kingdom  will  have  come  I 


SIMON 

[Stammering  with  amazement. 
You — you — would  dare — such  a — stratagem? 


JUDAS 

For  the  glory  of  the  Kingdom  of  God  what 
would  I  not  dare?  I  would  cast  my  soul 
into  the  balance  for  it.  And,  after  it  is  over 
and  done  with,  ages  to  come  will  glorify  me 
for  the  faith  of  my  boldness — my  name  will 
live  unto  all  generations  of  men!  I  shall 
be  known  as  the  Right  Arm  of  the  Messiah 
— greater  than  Peter,  greater  than  John — 
because  I  dared! 


JUDAS  183 

SIMON 

And  you  will  not  let  the  rest  of  the  twelve  into 
the  stratagem? 

JUDAS 

No !  We  must  hold  it  between  ourselves. 
They  might  not  approve,  or,  approving, 
might  not  be  as  bold  as  we. 

SIMON 

[Tentatively. 

It  were  well,  perhaps,  to  do  as  you  plan  .  .  . 
But  I?  ...  Darkness  sits  over  my  heart. 
Judas,  I  fear  ...  I  fear  ...  A  sudden 
trembling  goes  through  all  my  joints! 

JUDAS 

Simon,  arouse  yourself.  What!  is  the  zealot 
in  you  dead? 

SIMON 

Yea,  ever  since  he  bade  me  cast  my  dagger 
aside. 


1 84  JUDAS 

JUDAS 

I  need  no  help,  then — I  will  work  it  all  alone, 
will  stand  forever  alone. 

SIMON 
And  if  you  fail? 

JUDAS 

I  cannot  fail — for  this  was  ordained  from  the 
beginning.  And  think,  Simon,  what  a  jest 
it  will  be  against  the  Pharisees — to  the  gar- 
den will  I  lead  them.  They  will  carry  them- 
selves proudly  and  arrogantly,  and  think  to 
take  him  without  a  single  blow.  They  will 
think  that  I  have  truly  betrayed  him  into 
their  hands — then,  lo,  in  a  lightning-flash, 
the  Power  and  the  Thunder  of  God  will 
terribly  break  forth  about  them.  They  will 
find  themselves  hedged  in  on  all  sides  by 
shining  and  awful  shapes  with  swords  of 
cloven  flame.  We  will  enter  in  triumph  into 
the  Holy  City,  attended  by  the  seraphim  of 
Jehovah.  Then  will  the  Perfect  Year  be- 


JUDAS  185 

gin.  Death  and  oppression  will  vanish  from 
among  men.  All  nations  will  turn  their 
countenances  toward  the  Temple,  in  univer- 
sal prayer.  All  things  will  be  made  new. 

SIMON 

I  can  hardly  conceive  of  it.  'Twill  indeed  be 
a  wonderful  change  if  it  come  about  as  you 
say. 

JUDAS 

And  I  shall  accomplish  it  all  with  a  simple 
word  and  a  kiss — with  the  Kiss  of  Brother- 
hood that  he  taught  us  to  use  toward  each 
other — I  will  come  up  to  him  and  kiss  him, 
that  those  who  follow  me  may  know  which 
is  he. 

SIMON 

The  wonder  of  your  stratagem  grows  upon  me. 
Ah,  Judas,  if  you  but  succeed,  if  you 
make  no  mistake  in  what  you  conceive  the 
Master  to  be!  And  yet  I  fear  strangely 
for  you.  ...  I  see  yonder  among  the  trees 


i 86  JUDAS 

a  Roman  soldier.  He  sees  us.  He  comes 
this  way.  We  must  cease  talking  of  the 
Messiah. 

JUDAS 

Why,  'tis  the  very  captain  who  gave  us  warn- 
ing to  flee  from  Capernaum  the  last  time 
we  went  up  to  Jerusalem. 

SIMON 

The  very  samel  What  brings  him  here  alone 
and  away  from  his  command? 

JUDAS 

We  shall  presently  know. 

[Enter  Sabinus,  the  Roman  centurion. 

JUDAS 
Sabinus,  what  would  you  here? 

SABINUS 

Listen  1  I  have  been  made  a  new  man  by  a 
sudden  vision,  come  verily  of  God.  In  the 


JUDAS  187 

middle  watch  of  the  night,  when  all  the 
world  was  asleep,  it  came  to  me.  Me- 
thought  I  beheld  the  tribes  of  all  the  world 
gathered  in  one  on  the  face  of  an  illimitable 
plain.  Yet  they  bare  no  weapons.  They 
carried  in  their  hands  palms  and  olive 
branches.  Then  they  started  to  march  like 
a  host  advancing  to  battle.  But  their  battle- 
cry  was  a  song  of  love  and  peace  and  good- 
will. And  they  seemed  to  be  going  to  the 
crowning  of  a  king.  Then  the  vision 
changed,  and  I  saw  One  who  sate  on  a  throne 
reaching  from  heaven  to  earth.  And  when 
I  was  vouchsafed  a  glimpse  of  the  face  of 
him  who  was  to  be  crowned  king,  behold,  it 
was  none  other  than  he,  the  Healer  and 
Prophet,  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  A  hand  reached 
down  from  heaven,  from  out  a  cloud  of 
darkness,  thunder,  and  flashes  of  fire,  and 
set  a  shining  crown  upon  his  head.  And  a 
Voice  cried,  Behold,  the  Lord  of  Life  has 
come.  Let  all  men  love  one  another! 
I  woke  from  the  vision,  shaken  of  soul  .  .  . 
[Brokenly. 


i 88  JUDAS 

Ah,  how  can  I  make  plain  the  unutterable 
change  that  has  taken  place  within  me! 
Where  is  the  Master?  Lead  me  to  him,  that 
I  may  pledge  him  my  sword  and  my  life. 

SIMON 

He  is  a  strange  man!  I  fear  he  will  have 
none  of  your  sword,  as  he  would  have  none 
of  my  dagger. 

JUDAS 

Great  is  your  faith,  Sabinus!  There  is  no 
faith  so  great  in  all  Israel !  Come,  we  go 
even  now  to  the  Master,  and  we  will  bring 
you  to  him. 

[Exeunt  Simon,  Judas,  and  Sabinus. 
[Enter  Mary  Magdalen,  and  Joanna, 
wife  of  Churza,  the  Steward 

JOANNA 

I  am  told  that  he  is  here  in  Caesarea.  So, 
therefore,  let  us  rest  a  space,  since  he  is  so 
close  at  hand. 


JUDAS  189 

MARY 

We  have  come  far.  I,  too,  am  weary,  and  fain 
would  rest.  But  I  must  come  into  his  pres- 
ence now,  lest  I  die. 

JOANNA 

You  have  already  half-slain  my  soul  with 
your  haste. 

MARY 

I  would  find  him  and  wash  his  feet  with  tears 
of  repentance  and  wipe  them  dry  with  my 
hair. 

JOANNA 

Your  grief  is  indeed  great! 

MARY 

If  he  will  but  forgive  me!  For  I  was  mad  in- 
deed to  seek  him  as  my  lover  after  the  man- 
ner of  men. 

JOANNA 

After  what  other  manner  could  he  love  you, 
strange  woman? 


190  JUDAS 

MARY 

After  the  manner  of  God — with  a  love  that 
pities,  that  touches  the  soul  and  heals  it  of 
all  its  earthly  wounds.  He  heals  the  bodies 
of  men.  I  know  he  can  and  will  yet  do 
greater — I  would  have  him  cleanse  my  soul 
to  whiteness,  and  heal  it  of  its  sins  I 

JOANNA 

Can  he  work  so  great  a  miracle,  Messiah 
though  he  be? 

MARY 

Joanna!  I  know  that  thing  which  even  his 
disciples  know  not  as  yet :  He  is  more  than 
a  prophet,  more  than  a  mere  healer  of  the 
sick,  more  than  a  leader  in  Israel,  he  is  the 
very  Son  of  God  I 

JOANNA 

The  Son  of  God!  .  .  .  Nay,  child!  .  .  . 


JUDAS  191 

MARY 

By  my  midnight  vigils  I  swear  it;  by  all  my 
tears  of  repentance  shed  in  the  dark  watches 
of  the  night;  by  the  soul  that  even  now 
begins  to  burst  into  a  new  life  within  me — 
by  all  of  these  things,  Joanna,  I  swear  it, 
that  he  is  the  Son  of  God 

JOANNA 

If  that  be  so,  let  us  seek  him  out  immediately. 
Blessed  are  we  above  all  women — we  who 
are  able  to  wait  on  him,  to  serve  him. 

MARY 

Aye,  to  minister  unto  his  every  want,  to  run 
before  his  every  thought  with  service  and 
ministration  of  love 

JOANNA 

[Ecstatically. 

If  he  be  whom  you  say,  meseems,  Mary,  that 
the  angels  themselves  should  have  envy  of 
us! 


192  JUDAS 

[Exeunt  Mary  and  Joanna. 

[Enter  Herod,  Pilate,  and  the  Priest 

of  Pan. 

PILATE 
That  was  a  feast  worthy  of  Rome  itself. 

HEROD 

\With  pride. 

My  steward  knows  his  business.  I  brought 
him  all  the  way  from  Alexandria.  He 
cooked  so  well  that  I  gave  him  his  freedom. 
[  Turning  to  the  priest  of  Pan. 

And  you  say  that  he  is  not  John  the  Baptist 
risen  from  the  dead,  but  a  new  prophet? 
Well,  that  brings  a  little  comfort.  I  know 
not  why  I  feared  so  foolishly.  Such  a  thing 
is  indeed  beyond  nature,  as  you  say.  And 
yet  I  feared  it,  of  a  truth. 

PRIEST  OF  PAN 

They  call  him  Jesus,  the  Prophet  of  Nazareth. 
I  have  recently  held  much  discourse  with  a 


JUDAS  193 

disciple  of  his — a  pleasant  and  lively  fellow 
who  calls  himself  Thomas — one  who  had 
made  a  great  philosopher  if  he  had  only 
studied  at  Athens. 

PILATE 

But  tell  me  of  this  Jesus?  What  manner  of 
man  is  he? 

PRIEST  OF  PAN 

A  good  man,  and  one  who  has  by  some  means 
or  other  gathered  marvellous  wisdom  be- 
yond and  outside  the  schools ;  like  our  ^scu- 
lapius,  he  is  a  miraculous  healer;  like  our 
priestess  at  Dodona,  he  also  possesses  the 
gift  of  prophecy. 

PILATE 

And  yet  there  is  something  more  unusual  than 
all  that  about  this  man.  I  remember  him 
now.  He  was  at  Jerusalem  during  the  last 
feast  of  the  Jews,  and  angered  the  Pharisees 
greatly  by  getting  the  better  of  them  in  all 


194  JUDAS 

his  disputations  with  them.  The  most  acute 
and  learned  of  them  were  no  match  for  him. 
And  at  that  time  they  called  him  the  Mes- 
siah— whatever  that  may  mean — I  troubled 
not  myself  over  it,  being  busied  with  weight- 
ier affairs. 

HEROD 

\_To  Pilate. 

By  Messiah  they  mean  King  of  the  Jews;  they 
mean  the  Christ,  of  whom  I  told  you. 

PILATE 

You  mean,  then,  that  this  prophet  Jesus  would 
incite  the  Jews  to  rise  against  the  rule  of 
Rome? 

HEROD 

The  same,  Procurator! 

PILATE 

[Laughing,  but  slightly  annoyed. 
The  fool,  the  poor  dreamer  of  dreams!     Let 
us  dismiss  such  an  absurd  thing  from  our 


JUDAS  195 

thoughts.  We  came,  what  is  more  to  the 
point,  to  visit  the  temple  of  Pan  and  to  offer 
sacrifice  again  ere  my  departure. 

HEROD 

[Persistently. 

But  this  man  Christ,  Procurator,  in  thus  dis- 
missing him  lightly,  you  once  more — pardon 
me — show  how  little  you  know  of  the  Jew. 

PILATE 

[With  disgust. 

Pah!  I  am  tired  of  the  Jew!  I  would  rather 
have  a  little  command  in  the  midst  of  the 
Libyan  Desert  than  here! 

HEROD 

[Unable  to  dismiss  the  subject. 

If  this  man  claim  indeed  to  be  the  Messiah,  he 

will  make  you  much  trouble,  Procurator! 

PILATE 

We  have  thousands  of  well-drilled  Roman  vet- 
erans at  our  disposal. 


196  JUDAS 

HEROD 

And  he  might  have  thousands  of  madmen  at 
His!  Men  whose  fury  would  be  a  power 
too  great  for  even  Roman  discipline. 

PRIEST  OP  PAN 

I  have  heard  it  rumored  that  he  goes  down  to 
Jerusalem  at  the  next  Passover. 

PILATE 
[Jesting. 
I  will  make  his  acquaintance  then,  perhaps! 

PRIEST  OF  PAN 
The  time  of  the  Passover  is  at  hand. 

HEROD 

Indeed,  I  am  now  grown  curious  to  see  this 
remarkable  man  and  to  converse  with  him. 

PILATE 

He  has  already  usurped  too  much  of  our 
thought.  Come,  let  us  offer  up  sacrifice  and 
prayer  for  my  safe  return  to  Jerusalem. 


JUDAS  197 

HEROD 

[Obsequiously. 

And  let  us  also  pour  out  another  libation  to 
Caesar! 

[Exeunt,  into  the  temple,  Herod,  Pi- 
late, and  the  priest  of  Pan,  with  retinue. 
[Enter,  in  great  hurry  and  agitation, 
Judas  and  Simon  the  Zealot. 

JUDAS 

Here  is  the  place  of  meeting. 

[Enter,  behind  them,  Thomas. 

THOMAS 
And  where  is  the  Master? 

SIMON 
He  has  not  come  yet. 

THOMAS 

And  now  again  we  depart  for  the  Holy  City — 
so  I  suppose.  Ah,  how  I  weary  of  these 
fruitless  journeyings  to  and  fro! 


198  JUDAS 

JUDAS 

This  visit  to  Jerusalem  shall  bear  such  fruit 
as  to  astonish  all  the  generations  of  men 
forever! 

THOMAS 

So?  Your  plan,  Judas — tell  me  your  plan! 
Yet  bear  well  in  mind  that  you  must  do  no 
injury  to  him  whom  we  love  as  our  own 
lives  I 

JUDAS 

You  will  know  my  plan  when  it  has  been  ac- 
complished, and  not  until  then. 

[Enter,  Matthew,  Lebbaus,  Bartholo- 
mew, Philip,  Andrew,  and  all  the  other 
apostles  and  disciples,  excepting  James, 
John,  and  Peter. 

MATTHEW 
Has  anyone  brought  word  from  the  Master? 

THOMAS 

Peter,  James,  and  John  have  gone  to  him  and 
abide  with  him,  apart,  on  the  mountain. 


JUDAS  199 

JUDAS 
We  expect  their  arrival  soon. 

MATTHEW 

I  wonder  what  then  will  be  his  will?  I  chafe 
at  this  inaction.  We  have  already  delayed 
too  long. 

JUDAS 

7  can  tell  you  the  Master's  will.  It  is  that  we 
once  more  set  out  for  Jerusalem. 

SIMON 

This  time  to  triumph  or  perish. 

[Enter  James,  saddened  and  downcast. 

MATTHEW 
Brother,  what  word  from  the  Master? 

JAMES 

Sad,  indeed,  is  the  word  I  bear,  and  hard  to 
be  believed:  he  prophesies  his  death;  he  says 
that  one  of  us  who  love  him  shall  betray  him. 
He  is  exceedingly  sorrowful. 


200  JUDAS 

JUDAS 

[Half  to  himself;  startled. 
That  one  of  us  who  love  him  shall  betray  him 
— one  of  us  betray  him! 

JAMES 

Aye! — that  he  shall  be  betrayed  and  put  to 
death. 

THOMAS 

Ah,  no,  no!  It  must  not  be!  It  cannot  be! 
In  such  case  it  were  better  that  we  did  not 
go  to  the  Passover! 

JAMES 

And  he  prophesied  still  more — he  said  that  he 
would  rise  from  the  dead! 

A  DISCIPLE 

I  fear  this  Prophet,  who,  with  his  wonderful 
words,  has  persuaded  me  to  follow  him ! 
His  words  strike  terror  into  my  very  soul ! 


JUDAS  201 

For  all  that  he  says  comes  to  pass!  Yet 
how  could  this  be  true!  No  man  has  ever 
risen  from  the  dead! 

JUDAS 

[J"o  Simon. 

My  heart  faints,  even  though  I  have  encased 
it  in  the  iron  of  resolve.  .  .  .  But  nay,  he 
is  the  Messiah !  .  .  .  Yet  we  shall  soon 
see  ...  we  shall  see  ...  in  the  Garden! 

JAMES 

[Continuing. 

When  Peter  dared  rebuke  him  for  so  prophe- 
sying his  own  death,  the  Master  smote  him 
with  words  which  pierced  the  very  soul : 
Get  behind  me,  Evil  One,  he  cried,  for  you 
savor  of  the  things  that  be  of  men,  and  not 
of  God! 

MATTHEW 

But  the  Kingdom,  the  Kingdom!  What  did 
he  prophesy  concerning  the  Kingdom?  Will 
it  never  come?  Is  it  always  to  be  a  dream? 


202  JUDAS 

JAMES 

After  his  death  it  will  come,  so  he  proclaims. 
But  it  will  not  be  like  any  of  the  kingdoms 
of  earth.  It  will  be  a  strange  empire,  where 
the  Meek  and  the  Righteous  shall  rule  .  .  . 
Where  the  Servant  shall  exceed  the  Master, 
and  the  Poor,  the  Rich  .  .  .  Where  the 
First  will  be  last  and  the  Last  will  be 
first  .  .  .  But  it  is  dark,  dark  .  .  .  and 
seeing  I  do  not  see — I  do  not  understand — 
and  my  soul  is  sick  unto  death  1 

ANOTHER  DISCIPLE 

Ahl  Woe  is  me,  that  I  have  left  my  home 
and  kindred  for  this!  For  a  kingdom  whose 
king  shall  perish,  yet  live  again,  whose 
princes  are  to  be  slaves,  whose  laws  take 
root  in  a  darkness  of  contradiction  beyond 
all  understanding.  Ah,  woe  is  me! 

JUDAS 

[To  him  who  has  just  spoken. 
Hush,  craven  of  soul !     You  have  come  thus 


JUDAS  203 

far!    Then  endure  to  the  uttermost  whatever 
befall! 

THOMAS 

That  was  well  said,  Judas !     I  see  a  light  be- 
ginning to  grow  out  of  the  darkness. 


JUDAS 

Aye,  a  light  that  shall  grow  till  it  lights  the 
world! 

[Enter  John,  exultingly.     They  all  look 
toward  him. 


MATTHEW 

John!  We  look  to  you  for  a  word  of  light! 
For  to  you  the  Master  reveals  his  innermost 
soul! 

BARTHOLOMEW 
We  are  like  sheep  which  have  no  shepherd. 


204  JUDAS 

JOHN 

But  you  shall  have  a  shepherd,  and  he  shall 
soon  come  to  lead  you  safely  into  the  folds 
of  the  kingdom  .  .  .  for  Christ  now 
marches  to  victory  ...  I  have  seen  his 
Glory  I  .  .  .  The  Glory  of  God  has  de- 
scended upon  him  and  transfigured  him  to 
the  likeness  of  the  sunl 

[Enter,  hastily,  Peter.     They  now  all 
turn,  as  with  one  accord,  to  Peter. 

JOHN 
Why  did  not  the  Christ  come  with  you? 

PETER 

I  left  him  alone  upon  the  mountain-top,  at  his 
command.  But  he  will  soon  come  to  us. 
He  is  more  than  a  man  .  .  .  He  is  the  Son 
of  God.  Peter,  whom  say  men  that  I  am? 
he  asked  of  me,  just  ere  I  left  him.  Some 
say  Elias,  I  answered,  some  say  John  the 
Baptist,  and  others,  one  of  the  Prophets. 


JUDAS  205 

But  whom  say  you  that  I  am? 

Then  a  vision  rushed  over  me  like  a  great 
wind,  and  I  fell  on  my  face,  crying, 
Thou?  .  .  .  Thou  art  the  Christ,  the  Son 
of  God  .  .  .  And  then,  in  acknowledgment 
of  the  truth  of  what  I  had  said,  a  glory  fell 
over  his  form,  from  Heaven,  such  that  mine 
eyes  could  not  endure  the  brightness  of  it. 

A  DISCIPLE 

And  did  he  himself  call  himself  the  Son  of 
God? 

PETER 

With  his  own  lips ! 

SEVERAL  DISCIPLES 

[Crying  out,  one  after  the  other. 
'Tis    blasphemy!  .  .  .  He    blasphemes    God! 
.  .  .  He  has  gone  mad! 

A  DISCIPLE 

Aye !  .  .  .  'Tis  blasphemy.  .  .  .  The  Prophet 
of  Nazareth  has  gone  mad!  .  .  .  Because 


206  JUDAS 

of  these  bold  words  of  his   I  will   follow 
him  no  more! 
[Going. 

ANOTHER  DISCIPLE 

And  I,  too,  leave  him.  ...  I  fear  that  God 
will  visit  His  just  wrath  upon  even  all  who 
continue  to  follow  him,  after  this! 

ANOTHER 

I,  too,  can  no  longer  tarry.  .  .  .  And  you  who 
abide  with  him  still,  let  me  warn  you  that 
you  are  by  that  very  act  foredoomed  to  de- 
struction !  I  flee  while  there  is  yet  time  for 
escape. 

[These  disciples  go  out. 

THOMAS 

[After  a  long  silence. 

Yes,  'tis  a  hard  saying!  .  .  .  But  I,  having 
known  him,  having  loved  him,  will  bide  with 
him  until  the  end,  whatever  it  be! 


JUDAS  207 

SIMON 
Alas !     Alas ! 

[To  John. 

Go  to  him — for  he  loves  you  the  most  .  .  Go 
to  him  and  bring  him  hither  .  .  .  Let  us 
learn  from  his  own  lips  the  meaning  of  these 
sayings  and  prophecies!  .  .  .  He  dies  .  .  . 
He  is  the  Son  of  God  .  .  .  Having  died, 
he  lives  again,  and,  triumphing,  brings  in  the 
Kingdom ! 

[Clutching  at  Judas'  robe — aside. 

Judas!     Judas! 

JUDAS 

[Aside  to  Simon. 

'Tis  the  Flesh  that  his  godhead  moves  in — 'tis 
this  that  weakens  his  resolve — 'tis  this  that 
makes  him  speak  in  parables!  He  is  losing 
faith  in  himself.  But  trust  to  me!  I  shall 
not  fail! 

PETER 

He  goes  down  to  Jerusalem  1  This  time  to 
conquer.  Doubt  it  not. 


208  JUDAS 

[Noticing  the  various  expressions  on 
the  disciples'  faces,  pauses;  then,  with 
great  emphasis: 

What,  doubt  you  the  Son  of  God?     He  goes 
down  to  Jerusalem 

JAMES 

[Breaking  in. 
Alas,  to  die!     To  die! 

[Several  of  the  disciples  weep. 

THOMAS 
[Boldly. 
Then  let  us  also  go  down  and  die  with  him ! 

[  The  doors  of  the  temple  of  Pan  swing 
open,  and  Herod,  Pilate,  the  priest  of 
Pan,  and  retinue,  appear.  Both  parties 
— the  apostles  and  the  pagans — look  at 

each  other  in  silence.     Tableau. 

< 

CURTAIN 


ACT  IV 

SCENE    I 

A  room  in  the  palace  of  the  High-Priest  at 
Jerusalem.  Window  in  background.  Door- 
ways to  left  and  right. 

Hanan  and  Caiaphas  discovered  at  rise  of 
curtain. 

CAIAPHAS 

Think  you  that  this  trouble-maker  will  come 
down  to  the  feast?  If  he  come,  we  must 
surely  lay  hold  on  him. 

HANAN 

Aye,  for  his  power  among  the  people  has  al- 
ready become  too  great. 

CAIAPHAS 

They  say  he  works  miracles  as  did  the  prophets 
of  old. 

209 


2io  JUDAS 

HANAN 

If  he  does  so,  it  is  not  of  God,  but  of  the 
Evil  One — for  he  abides  not  by  a  single 
law  of  the  Fathers. 

CAIAPHAS 

And  not  only  does  he  break  the  Laws  of  the 
Fathers,  but  he  also  blasphemes  against  God 
and  the  Temple.  Of  God,  I  am  told  that 
he  has  said:  I  am  His  son,  and  He  is  my 
Father,  and  he  has  boasted  that  he  can  in 
three  days  both  destroy  and  rebuild  the 
Temple. 

HANAN 

[Gleefully  and  malevolently. 
Why,  if  that  be  so,  then  it  will  be  easy  to  com- 
pass   his    destruction.      We   can   have    him 
stoned  to  death  for  blasphemy. 

CAIAPHAS 

Nay — not  without  permission  of  Pilate.  But 
I  have  heard  that  he  proclaims  himself  to  be 


JUDAS  211 

the  Messiah,  the  King  of  the  Jews.  This 
will  grate  on  the  Roman  ear  .  .  .  They 
will  crucify  him  for  that  ...  or  hand  him 
over  to  us,  that  we  might  crucify  him  .  .  . 

Ah,  would  that  he  were  now  here,  that 

[A   commotion   heard  without.     Caia- 
phas  steps   back   to   the   window,   and 
looks  out.    He  gazes  fixedly;  then  sud- 
denly draws  back. 
Ah! 

HANAN 

What  see  you? 

CAIAPHAS 
It  is  he  I 

HANAN 

Who? 

CAIAPHAS 

Him  of  whom  we  spake — Jesus  of  Nazareth. 
Hear  the  people,  what  they  cry! 

[Cries  of  Hail,  son  of  David!     Hail, 
Messiah!     Hosannah  in  the  Highest! 


212  JUDAS 

CAIAPHAS 

Do  you  not  hear  in  what  wise  they  acclaim 
him! 

[Looking  out  at  window  again. 
They  are  casting  branches  of  palm  under  his 
feet!     They  receive  him  as  if  he  were  al- 
ready their  king. 

[Voices:  Hail,   son  of  David!     Hail, 
King  of  Israel! 

HANAN 

[In  wrath  and  fear. 

Let  us  seize  upon  him  now,  while  he  is  close 
by,  lest  he  escape  again,  as  he  did  at  the 
last  Festival.  Call  the  guard! 

[Makes  to  call  the  guard. 

CAIAPHAS 

[Restraining  him. 

Nay!  not  now!  Not  with  the  multitude  press- 
ing about  him.  To-day  they  would  fight 
for  him. 


But  to-morrow! 


JUDAS  213 

HANAN 

CAIAPHAS 


The  mob  is  fickle — to-morrow  they  will  have 
forgotten  him.  Then  we  can  take  him  with- 
out shedding  of  blood,  accuse  him  before 
Pilate,  and  have  him  put  to  death. 


HANAN 

But,  perhaps  there  may  come  no  opportune 
to-morrow.  You  know  not  the  man.  At 
times  he  is  capable  of  bold  and  resolute  ac- 
tion, as  when,  for  instance,  he  whipped  the 
money-changers  out  of  the  Temple.  He 
might  even  attempt  to  make  seizure  on  the 
city ! 

CAIAPHAS 

In  that  case,  it  were  well,  indeed.  For  the 
Roman  legions  would  soon  make  an  end  of 
him  and  his  followers,  and  we  would  be 


214  JUDAS 

spared   what  will   at  best,   perhaps,    be   an 
undertaking  fraught  with  peril. 
[Enter  a  priest. 

PRIEST 

[Bowing  low. 

Masters,  the  man  whom  ye  have  long  sought 
to  lay  hands  on  has  even  now  entered  the 
city  gate. 

CAIAPHAS 

And  how  find  you  the  people  disposed? 

PRIEST 

In  a  dangerous  mood.  They  believe  him  to 
be  the  Messiah.  For  a  wonderful  report 
concerning  him  has  spread  abroad,  making 
all  the  pilgrims  believe  in  him. 

CAIAPHAS 
What  now? 

PRIEST 

'Tis  said  that  in  the  nearby  village  of  Bethany 
he  has  raised  a  man,  one  Lazarus,  from  the 


JUDAS  215 

dead — and  that  after  he  had  lain  three  days 
in  the  tomb! 

HANAN 

Believe  they  this? 

PRIEST 
They  believe,  and  have  gone  mad  over  it. 

HANAN 

It  cannot  be  denied,  now,  that  he  is  a  danger- 
ous man,  this  Jesus.  Long  ere  this  he  should 
have  been  seized  upon  and  put  to  death. 

CAIAPHAS 

I  have  hitherto  held  him  too  lightly,  I  must 
confess.  Last  Passover  I  carelessly  let  him 
slip  through  my  hands.  But  now  I  shall 
mend  my  negligence  by  giving  him  over  to 
death,  and  that  quickly.  He  shall  never 
again  escape  his  just  punishment. 
\_A  knock  heard  at  the  door. 


216  JUDAS 

CAIAPHAS 

[Clapping  hands  for  servant. 

[Enter  servant. 

Go  see  who  it  is  knocks  at  yon  door.  I  had 
thought  that  a  guard  was  stationed  thereat. 
Ask  him  what  he  will  who  thus  intrudes  so 
rudely  on  the  High-Priest's  presence. 

[Servant  disappears  and  re-appears. 

CAIAPHAS 

[  To  servant. 
What  manner  of  man  is  he? 

SERVANT 

It  is  one  who  calls  himself  Judas;  one  who 
claims  to  have  been  a  disciple  of  this  Jesus. 

CAIAPHAS 

Bid  him  enter.     I  knew  him  well  in  former 
days.    He  was  once  a  rich  merchant  here  at 
Jerusalem:  but  he  disposed  of  all  his  wealth 
to  follow  this  impostor. 
[Exit  servant. 


JUDAS  217 

HANAN 

[Rubbing  his  hands  together. 
Ah !   .   .   .  things     go     well  .  .   .  already     we 
have  one  of  them  in  our  hands! 
[Enter  Judas  and  servant. 

JUDAS 

[Bowing  low. 
The  blessing  of  Jehovah  wait  upon  you. 

[To  Caiaphas. 
Are  you  not  Caiaphas,  the  High-Priest? 

CAIAPHAS 
You  have  said. 

JUDAS 

Then  I  have  a  matter  of  gravest  import  to 
consider  with  you  .  .  . 

[Significantly. 
Alone ! 

[Caiaphas  beckons  to  servant  and  priest 

to  withdraw. 

[Judas  waits,  in  silence.    He  glances  at 

Hanan. 


218  JUDAS 

CAIAPHAS 
This  is  Hanan,  my  father-in-law  I 

JUDAS 
Did  I  not  say  alone? 

CAIAPHAS 

Open  your  robe.     You  carry  no  dagger  about 
you,  after  the  manner  of  the  Zealots? 

JUDAS 

[Opening  the  folds  of  his  robe. 
I  have  come  unarmed. 

CAIAPHAS 

Father,  leave  us,  then,  for  a  space. 

[Lower. 

Remain  behind   yonder  curtain;  have   others 
within  call! 

[Hanan  goes  out  by  curtain. 

CAIAPHAS 
And  now,  what  would  you? 


JUDAS  219 

JUDAS 

m  / 
[Smitten    with    sudden    misgiving:    he 

hesitates,    trembles,    sways,    and    then 

makes  toward  exit. 

Nay,  it  was  naught,  believe  me !  'Twas  naught 
but  a  momentary  madness  that  brought  me 
here.  A  great  fear  has  fallen  upon  me.  I 
must  go  and  leave  unsaid  what  I  came 
to  say. 

CAIAPHAS 

[Puzzled. 

Yet,  speak!  ...  do  you  fear  to  speak?  .  .  . 
Do  you  fear  me? 

JUDAS 

[Recovering   himself,   with  determina- 
tion to  proceed,  come  what  may. 
I  fear  not  to  speak.     I  fear  not  you.     I  know 
not  what  I  fear,  and  yet  am  I  stricken  with 
terror. 


22O  JUDAS 

CAIAPHAS 
\_As\de. 

The  man  is  mad.  He  shakes  with  madness. 
'Tis  well  there  are  others  nigh. 

[Calling  out. 
Judas! 

JUDAS 

[As  one  startled  out  of  a  nightmare. 
Ah  .  .  .  what    would    you    with    me,     Mas- 
ter? ...  It  must  be  done  .  .  .  have  mer- 
cy 1 

CAIAPHAS 

I,  Caiaphas,  the  High-Priest,  call  you — you  do 
well  to  call  me  Master.  I  command  you  to 
speak.  What  came  you  here  for?  You 
stagger  about  like  one  full  of  wine.  But  you 
are  in  my  power.  Speak,  or  I  shall  have  you 
seized  and  bound  and  cast  into  prison. 

JUDAS 

[To  himself,  distractedly. 

Nay,  do  I  not  do  him  a  great  wrong? — him 
who  has  trusted  me  with  the  common  purse, 
with  many  things ! 


JUDAS  221 

CAIAPHAS 

[Falling  into  his  humor. 

Who  was  it  trusted  you  with  the  common  purse? 
Who  is  against  whom  you  'conspire — 
whom  would  you  betray?  Speak — you  have 
come  here  of  your  own  will.  You  cannot 
now  depart  until  you  have  delivered  yourself 
of  that  for  which  you  came! 

[Judas  advances  toward  the  door. 


CAIAPHAS 

What  ho!     The  Guard!     The  Guard! 

[The  guard  appear:  they  present  spears 
to  Judas'  breast.  He  bares  it,  in  dis- 
dain. 

JUDAS 
[Angrily. 

Press  home,  if  you  will !    I  no  longer  fear  any- 
thing mortal.     Caiaphas,  this  is  not  the  way 
to  make  me  speak. 
[Distractedly. 


222  JUDAS 

It  is  God  I  fear,  not  man.     But  I  have  taken 
the  step.  ...  It  was  so  ordained  from  the 
beginning,  and  I  shall  persevere. 
[Sinking  his  face  in  his  hands. 

Ah,  God,  wilt  thou  not  find  a  voice  out  of  the 
silence  and  tell  me  what  to  do? 


CAIAPHAS 

[Beckons  spearmen  out. 
Strange  being!  ...  I  wait  upon  your  words. 

JUDAS 

Nor  shall  you  wait  in  vain.  Know,  then,  that 
I,  Judas,  am  come  to  betray  into  your  hands 
the  Saviour  of  Israel,  the  Son  of  God. 


CAIAPHAS 

[Eagerly. 
Ah! ... 

[Restraining  his  eagerness  and  sneering. 
You  mean  the  mad  prophet  of  Nazareth! 


JUDAS  223 

JUDAS 

[Shaken  with  a  new  terror. 
Nay,  I  mean  the  Saviour  of  the  World,  the  Son 
of  God! 

CAIAPHAS 

Man,  are  you  mad?  Can  the  Wind  have  a 
son? 

JUDAS 

Ah,  you  blaspheme  God!  All  things  are  possi- 
ble with  Him! 

CAIAPHAS 
And  you  betray  His  son? 

JUDAS 
Yes! 

{With  determination. 

That  he  might  manifest  himself  over  the  weak- 
ness of  the  flesh — that  he  might  tarry  no 
longer,  but  blaze  forth  in  all  the  splendor 
and  terror  of  his  God-head.  In  betraying 
him  I  do  not  betray  him.  Neither  do  I  be- 


224  JUDAS 

tray  you — for  now  you  know  beforehand 
that  in  taking  him  you  will  pit  yourself 
against  God — though  you  will  not  believe 
this,  and  will  not  thereby  be  restrained  from 
laying  hands  on  him. 


CAIAPHAS 

[With  a  sharp,  half-frightened  laugh. 
You  rave!     Where    is    this    God    of    yours? 
When  will  you  bring  him  into  my  hands? 

[Flinging  a  purse  at  Judas'  feet. 
There  is  an  earnest  of  our  bargain! 


JUDAS 

[Shuddering. 
Of  our  bargain!     What  bargain? 

CAIAPHAS 

[Impatiently. 

Have  you   not   bargained  with  me  to  betray 
Jesus  of  Nazareth  into  my  hands? 


JUDAS  225 

JUDAS 

[Dazed. 
Have  I?    Ah,  yes  .  .  . 

{With  a  wild  laugh. 
Ah,  yes!  ...  I  have  .  .  .  but  not  for  gold! 

CAIAPHAS 

[Mockingly. 
For  what  else,  then,  if  not  for  gold? 

JUDAS 

That  he  might  prove  himself  the  Son  of  God 
to  an  unbelieving  world! 

CAIAPHAS 
But  take  up  the  purse! 

JUDAS 

[Not  heeding,  going  closer  to  Caiaphas, 
his  eyes  starting  from  his  head. 
To-night !     He  prays  ...  in  the  Garden  of 
Gethsemane  ...  I  will  lead  you  to  him  .  .  . 
after  sunset! 


226  JUDAS 

CAIAPHAS 
Take  up  the  purse,  then,  as  a  surety! 

JUDAS 

[Shrinking;  to  himself. 

I!  ...  for  gold?  .  .  .  Nay,  but  for  the 
Kingdom's  sake  I  But  they  will  suspect  if  I 
do  not  .  .  .  some  traps  .  .  .  some  am- 
bush .  .  .  and  all  will  run  amiss! 

[Stoops  slowly  and  picks  up  the  purse. 
As  he  rises  to  his  full  height,  with  the 
purse  in  his  hand,  the  curtain  to  left  is 
flung  aside,  showing  Hanan  and  two 
priests. 

CAIAPHAS 

[Pointing  to  them. 
Judas!  You  are  bound — behold  the  witnesses! 

JUDAS 
I  am  betrayed ! 

[Shrieks. 
Ah! 


JUDAS  227 

CAIAPHAS 
You  came  to  betray — what  more? 

JUDAS 

[A  great  revulsion  sweeping  over  him. 
No!     No! 

[Flings  down  purse  violently  at  Caia- 

phas'  feet. 

There,  take  it  back  again!    It  is  fire.    It  burns 
the  touch.     It  is  full  of  scorpions. 

[Cries  out  and  falls. 

CAIAPHAS 

[To  guards. 

Bear  him  out;  keep  close  guard  over  him.    He 
is  not  to  be  trusted. 

[They  pick  Judas  up  and  start  out  with 

him. 

[Stooping  and  picking  up  the  purse. 
Wait,  he  must  not  go  without  the  price  of  be- 
trayal ! 

[Puts  the  purse  under  Judas'  robe. 

[The  guards  march  off  with  him. 


228  JUDAS 

CAIAPHAS 

[Turns  to  Hanan,  with  great  relief. 
It  is  finished  ...  at   last   we   have   Jesus   of 
Nazareth  in  our  power  I 

SCENE     II 

The  Betrayal 

The  audience  is  in  complete  darkness.  There 
is  a  tenuous  white  curtain,  hung  between  the 
stage  and  the  audience,  and  all  the  action  of 
this  scene  takes  place  behind  the  curtain.  The 
rustle  of  passing  garments;  a  torch  casts  mo- 
mentary shadows  of  several  human  figures; 
and  then  darkness  again.  Suddenly  a  low,  rich 
•voice  is  heard. 

THE  VOICE 

Sit  ye  here  while  I  go  and  pray  yonder. 

[A  long  pause;  a  heavy  sigh. 
My   soul  is    exceeding   sorrowful,    even   unto 
death.    Tarry  ye  here  and  watch  with  me. 

[A  long  pause;  a  sound  of  moving. 


JUDAS  229 

THE  VOICE 

[Praying. 

O,  my  Father,  if  it  be  possible,  let  this  cup  pass 
from  me ! — nevertheless,  not  as  I  will,  but  as 
Thou  wilt. 

[4  pause:  a  long  sigh:  heavy  breathing, 
as  of  one  sleeping. 

What,  Peter,  could  ye  not  watch  with  me  an 
hour? 

[Another  pause. 

THE  VOICE 

[In  great  agony. 

O  my  Father,  if  this  cup  may  not  pass  from 
me,  except  I  drink  it,  Thy  will  be  done ! 

[A  very  long  pause,  during  which  sob- 
bing is  heard. 

THE  VOICE 

[Now  with  great  calmness. 
O  my  Father,  if  this  cup  may  not  pass  from 
me,  except  I  drink  it,  Thy  will  be  done. 
[A  pause. 


230  JUDAS 

THE  VOICE 

\With  solemn  joy. 

Behold,  the  hour  is  at  hand,  and  the  Son  of 
Man  is  betrayed  into  the  hands  of  sinners. 
Rise,  let  us  be  going.  .  .  .  Behold,  he  is  at 
hand  that  doth  come  to  betray  me! 

ANOTHER  VOICE 

Whomsoever  I  shall  kiss — that  is  he! 

[Sound  of  an  approaching  multitude. 
The  whole  curtain  is  lit  up  from  behind 
with  torches.  The  shadow  of  one 
standing  alone  lurches  against  the  cur- 
tain. Another  shadow  advances  to  it. 
They  kiss. 

THE  OTHER  VOICE 

Hail,  Master! 

\_A  great  sigh  of  anguish. 

THE  VOICE 

Friend,  wherefore  art  thou  come? 
{Other  shadows  approach. 


JUDAS  231 

THE  VOICE 
[Again. 

Ah,  Judas,  betrayest  thou  the  Son  of  Man 
with  a  kiss? 

[A  great  commotion  of  shadows  and 
moving  of  torches. 

VOICE  OF  PETER 

We  are  betrayed  1     The  Master  is  betrayed! 
At  least  let  us  die  like  men! 
[Noise  of  scuffle. 

THE  VOICE 

Put  up  again  thy  sword!  For  they  that  take 
the  sword  shall  perish  by  the  sword.  Think- 
est  thou  that  I  cannot  now  pray  to  my  Father, 
and  He  shall  presently  give  me  more  than 
twelve  legions  of  angels! 

SECOND  VOICE 
In  His  holy  name,  pray  to  Him,  I  beseech  thee ! 


232  JUDAS 

THE  VOICE 

Nay,  not  so,  for  in  such  wise  cometh  not  my 
Kingdom.  .  .  .  Do  with  me  as  ye  will  I 

SECOND  VOICE 

[Wailing. 

Alas,  alas,  the  Kingdom  hath  passed  by  I  .  .  . 
I  have  failed  .  .  .  woe  is  me,  I  have  failed ! 
[The  leaping  lights  and  lurching  shad- 
ows pass  out  across  the  curtain  in 
silence.  Weeping  is  heard  in  the  dark- 
ness. Then  the  curtain  goes  up,  and  the 
Garden  of  Gethsemane  stands  dimly  re- 
vealed in  feeble  moonlight.  Judas 
crouches  like  a  rock-cast  shadow  in  the 
centre  of  the  stage,  convulsed  with  an- 
guish. 

JUDAS 

'Tis  done !  'Tis  done — and,  woe  is  me,  he 
bared  not  the  omnipotence  of  his  arm! 
Those  whom  I  led  to  take  him  were  not  scat- 
tered with  lightning  as  leaves  are  scattered 


JUDAS  233 

by  wind!  Alas!  Alas!  for  all  time  I  shall 
be  a  hissing  to  mankind  because  of  this,  my. 
failure. 

A  VOICE 

[Whispering. 
Judas,  what  hast  thou  done? 

JUDAS 

I  have  betrayed,  if  not  the  Son  of  God,  the 
noblest  man  that  ever  woman  bore!  But 
get  thee  hence,  I  know  thee  who  thou  art, 
the  Evil  One ! 

[A  fiendish  laugh  echoes  and  dies  away. 

JUDAS 

[Dropping  purse  to  the  ground. 
Nay,  I  shall  take  it  up  again — 

[Takes  it  up. 

— shall  go  and  cast  it,  a  ringing  handful  of 
silver,  into  the  High-Priest's  face!  .  .  . 
'Twas  but  a  pretext,  a  pitiable  pre- 
text .  .  .  otherwise  they  had  suspected  me 


234  JUDAS 

of  leading  them  into  danger  .  .  .  For  at 
any  one  time,  I,  that  was  purse-bearer  to 
the  apostles,  might  have  stolen  from  the 
common  purse  far  more  than  this  .  .  .  and 
I  gave  up  my  riches  to  follow  him  ...  I 
will  go  and  throw  it  into  the  High-Priest's 
face. 

[A  hollow  laugh  again  echoes  volumi- 
nously. 

JUDAS 

Come  forth  and  shew  thyself,  or  else  be  silent  I 
[Enter  a  hooded  shape. 

JUDAS 
{Wildly. 

I  am  distraught.    How  many  are  there  of  you? 
Either  thou  art  two,  or  thou  hast  two  voices  1 

SHAPE 
I  am  legion;  wouldst  see  more? 

JUDAS 

Thou  art  enough,  legion!     Vile  shadow,  what 
wouldst  with  me? 


JUDAS 235 

SHAPE 

I  am  a  spirit  of  evil,  sent  to  thank  thee  by  him 
who  is  the  Prince  of  Evil  Ones,  to  thank 
thee  for  betraying  into  the  hands  of  men  the 
Son  of  God! 


SHAPE 
Jesus  of  Nazareth — thou  knowest  who ! 

JUDAS 

He  was  not  the  Son  of  God,  I  deem.  Never- 
theless, thou  liest — I  betrayed  him  not — I 
loved  him.  It  was  my  too  great  faith,  my 
too  great  love,  that  in  excess  of  blindness 
led  me  astray.  But,  if  he  be  the  Son  of  God, 
'tis  not  yet  too  late.  Even  yet  he  shall  pro- 
claim himself. 

SHAPE 
They  will  condemn  him  to  death ! 


236  JUDAS 

JUDAS 
They  cannot  slay  him,  if  he  be  divine. 

SHAPE 
They  will  crown  him  with  thorns. 

JUDAS 

The  crown  will  break  forth  into  roses  as  soon 
as  it  touches  his  head. 

SHAPE 
They  will  nail  him  to  a  cross. 

JUDAS 

If  he  be  the  Son  of  God,  he  will  astonish  the 
world  and  all  the  waiting  angels,  by  stepping 
down  from  the  cross,  as  a  king  steps  down 
from  a  throne.  And  the  cross  will  become 
a  throne,  and  from  it  he  shall  rule  all  the 
nations. 

[A    multitudinous    laughter    surges    in 
from  behind  the  scenes. 


JUDAS  237 

JUDAS 
[Cowering. 
What  was  that?  .  .  .  Are  there  more? 

SHAPE 

That  was  the  legion  of  which  I  erstwhile  spake. 
They  cannot  be  numbered  for  multitude. 
They  come  to  sit  about  thee  as  their  king — 
all  the  devils  of  betrayals  that  ever  were  or 
shall  be — and  thou  the  chief  Devil! 

[Very  dark.    Enter,  dim-seen  shape  af- 
ter shape,  till  the  stage  is  filled. 

JUDAS 

Ah! — send  them  away — for  captain  of  them 
thou  seemest. 

THE  SHAPE 

Be  not  unkind  with  them — they  come  to  do  thee 
homage.  For  know,  Judas,  that  thou  hast 
done  a  thing  which  is  already  famous  in  hell. 
'Tis  not  often  that  one  can  betray  a  son  of 
God!  And  henceforth  thy  name — in  heaven 


238  JUDAS 

an  abomination,  on  earth  an  execration,  and 
in  hell  a  white  word  of  joy  forever — shall 
be  a  type  and  not  a  name — a  symbol  of 
shameless  betrayal,  of  uttermost  foulness  of 
soul.  Hell  glories  in  thee,  Judas ! 

JUDAS 

Nay,  I  strove  for  the  greatest  good  for  which 
mortal  hath  ever  striven! 

THE  SHAPE 

And  hence  thou  hast  overshot  thyself  and  hast 
achieved  the  greatest  evil. 

JUDAS 

[Wearily. 
Leave   me,    and   take   with   thee   thy   brother 

spirits. 

THE  SHAPE 

Nay,   I  am  thine — thine    own    accusing    con- 
science. 

JUDAS 

And  a  foul  companion  thou  art! 


JUDAS  239 

SHAPE 

Not  half  as  foul  as  the  soul  I  haunt. 
[More  fiendish  laughter. 

JUDAS 
Ah,  I  would  be  alone  I    Great  God,  have  mercy 


upon  me! 


THE  SHAPE 


'Tis  impossible  that  thou  shouldst  be  alone  — 
no  man  who  does  evil  goes  alone.     All  hell 
is  emptied  of  itself  to  do  thee  honor. 
[Enter  more  shapes. 

JUDAS 
There  is  no  longer  any  room  for  them. 

SHAPE 
All  hell  could  house  its  demons  in  thy  heart. 

JUDAS 
With  day  thou  and  these  monsters  must  depart. 


240  JUDAS 

SHAPE 
Not  from  thy  bosom — 'tis  our  proper  home! 

JUDAS 
Woe  is  me,  I  am  doomed! 

THE  SHAPE 
Thou  shalt  not  tempt  the  Lord,  thy  God. 

SCENE    III 

A  day  later.     The  same  scene. 
Judas  discovered  crouching,  as  before.     En- 
ter, sorrowfully,  Simon  the  Zealot. 

SIMON 

[Not  seeing  Judas. 

Alas!  Alas!  The  dream  of  the  Kingdom  has 
vanished  like  a  morning  mist,  and  all  our 
goodly  company  is  dispersed  like  a  flock  of 
sheep  before  the  wolf  when  the  shepherd  is 
away. 


JUDAS  241 

JUDAS 
[Hisses. 
Simon! 

SIMON 
[Startled. 
What  dreadful  sound  was  that? 

[Discovers  Judas,  and  shrinks. 
Ah,  Judas,  is  it  you? 


JUDAS 
Tis  I  ... 

[With  great  hunger  of  soul. 
The  Master,  Simon,  tell  me  of  him! 


SIMON 
[Harshly. 

Judas,  fear  for  your  soul.  He  is  doomed — 
condemned  to  hang  betwixt  earth  and  sky. 
They  spat  upon  him.  They  crushed  upon 
his  head  a  crown  of  thorns.  They  thrust  a 
reed  in  mockery  for  a  sceptre  betwixt  his 
hands.  Judas,  you  have  destroyed  the  Hope 
of  all  Israel ! 


242  JUDAS 

JUDAS 

You  are  bold,  indeed,  to  blame  me  alone,  when 
you  approved  of  my  plan,  and  Thomas 
winked  at  it. 

SIMON 

I  did  not  dream  it  would  ever  end  thus ! 

JUDAS 

Out,  craven!  You  condoned  the  enterprise, 
and  yet  would  bear  no  portion  of  the  blame. 

SIMON 

I  did  not  dream  that  this  would  be  the  endl 
\Weeps. 

JUDAS 

It  seems  that  you,  too,  are  torn  asunder  with 
remorse.  Tell  me,  do  the  spirits  trouble  you, 
also? 

SIMON 

You  never  told  me  that  you  meant  to  betray 
him  in  this  manner. 
[Shuddering. 


JUDAS  243 

I  did  not  think  that  you  would  hunt  him  down 
as  men  hunt  a  wild  animal  I 

JUDAS 

Hush!      I    deemed    him    omnipotent — though 
made  weak  of  purpose  by  the  flesh  in  which 
his  Godhead  moved.     I  thought  to  do  him 
a  kindly  service. 
[Wildly. 

Before  Jehovah,  I  swear  that  my  kiss  was  one 
of  love  and  belief,  and  not  one  of  hate  and 
betrayal!  So,  upbraid  me  not.  My  guilt 
is  heavy  enough.  God  punishes  me.  Up- 
braid me  not. 

SIMON 
[Touched. 

He  raves!  The  shadow  of  death  lies  black 
upon  him. 

[Enter  Peter,  in  great  distress. 

PETER 

Ah,  they  have  compelled  him  to  carry  his  own 
cross.  Thrice  he  fell  on  the  way.  They 


244  JUDAS 

have  nailed  him,  hand  and  foot,  the  Living 
Lord,  on  the  cross.  .  .  .  The  soldiers  cast 
lots  for  his  garment.  .  .  .  My  heart  breaks. 
Ah,  God,  wilt  Thou  not  come  down  and  res- 
cue Thy  son?  Wilt  Thou  not  bid  him  step 
down  from  the  cross  and  bring  in  the  King- 
dom for  which  we  have  so  fruitlessly  tra- 
vailed, and  hoped,  and  striven? 

JUDAS 
[Piteously. 

Peter!  Peter!  Have  faith.  He  yet  shall 
step  down  from  the  cross.  Is  it  not  true? 

PETER 

[Shrinking  back  from  Judas. 
Loathed  creature!     You  have  worked  this  ill! 
You  have  done  this  I 

JUDAS 

\W\t\i  agony. 

Aye!  'twas  my  work.  I  pay  for  it!  I  pay  for 
it!  But  chide  not,  lest  the  Son  of  Man  step 
down  from  the  cross  and  yet  fulfil  my  faith 


JUDAS  245 

in  him.     Then  'twill  be  I  who  shall  rise  in 
glory  beyond  all  the  twelve ! 

\_A  long  silence. 

[One  by   one  the  other  disciples,   like 

strayed   sheep,    gather    on    the    stage. 

Then  the  darkness  at  mid-day  descends. 

All  creation  seems  to  rock  and  tremble. 

It  lightens.    The  roar  of  the  cataclysm 

dies  of.     Quiet  ensues. 

CHORUS  OF  ANGELS 

[Singing  in  the  darkness. 
All  Nature  groans  because  its  Lord  is  dead; 
Yet  Death  from  this  sad  hour  is  vanquished, 
And,  though  man's  body  wither  like  the  rose, 
His  soul  at  last  her  mighty  nature  knows. 
'Tis  finished — by  the  death  of  God's  own  Son, 
Man  over  Death  the  Victory  hath  won! 

[Light  gradually  re-appears.     Judas  is 

seen  to  have  vanished. 

SIMON 

Ah,  Peter,  did  you  see  the  flash  of  wings,  and 
hear  those  voices  singing  wondrous  things? 


246  JUDAS 

PETER 
I  heard,  but  understood  not. 

SIMON 

Nor  did  I.  But  full  well  I  know  that  some- 
thing marvellous,  something  that  the  world 
never  saw  before,  has  taken  place. 

PETER 
But  whither  has  Judas  fled? 

SIMON 

I  think  that  he  has  wandered  forth  to  die.  He 
has  gone  mad! 

[Enter,  solemnly,  John.  All  eyes  con- 
verge toward  him,  as  bearing  the  last 
word. 

JOHN 
He  is  dead! 

[Groaning  and  sobbing. 


JUDAS  247 

PETER 

And  it  was  one  of  us  whom  he  trusted  and 
loved  that  betrayed  him! 

THOMAS 

0  basest  evil  ever  wrought  by  man! 

JOHN 

Peace,  brethren,  peace!  Peter,  are  you  not 
smitten  with  shame?  Was  it  not  you  who 
denied  him  thrice? 

PETER 

1  did  not  give  him  over  into  the  hands  of 
death! 

THOMAS 
Aye,  that  he  did  not ! 

JOHN 

Thomas,  'twas  you  at  every  turn  met  Jesus 
face  to  face  with  doubt! 


248  JUDAS 

PETER 

However,  I  pronounce  my  curse  upon  Judas, 
the  betrayer.  For  to  me  is  given  from  on 
high  equal  power  to  bless  or  ban.  Accursed 
may  you  be  forever,  Judas!  May  all  bread 
turn  to  ashes  at  your  lips,  and  all  drink  to 
fire!  May  all  the  world  hate  you!  May 
God  never  look  with  love  on  you  again 
through  all  eternity! 

JOHN 

Cease,  Peter,  cease !  No  more  of  this,  I  pray. 
Be  not  too  stern  of  heart.  Before  mine  eyes 
a  hope  begins  to  dawn,  even  for  Judas,  mis- 
guided in  a  rash  resolve.  Yet  did  we  so 
much  better  than  he?  How  often  have  we 
grieved,  in  little  things,  the  Master's  heart! 
How  often  have  we  doubted  and  withheld 
our  souls  from  him! 

PETER 

[Remembering,  weeps. 
Aye,  'tis  sol 


JUDAS  249 

JOHN 

[With  power. 

Now,  who  here  dares  pronounce  further  curses 
on  the  head  of  Judas,  arch-traitor  though  he 
be?  Who  of  us  did  not  forsake  the  Master 
at  his  moment  of  supreme  agony?  What 
did  ye  here  while  he  died  yonder?  And  even 
now  he  hangs  alone,  between  two  thieves,  on 
the  dreadful  hill  of  skulls.  ...  At  the  first 
bitter  blast  of  persecution  we  were  dispersed 
on  winds  of  fear,  like  withered  leaves. 

PETER 

Nevermore  will  I  deny  him.  Let  them  come 
and  take  me  now,  and  put  me  to  death,  if 
they  will! 

JAMES 

I  will  die  for  him,  dead,  whom  I  misunderstood 
when  alive ! 

THOMAS 

I  will  believe  in  him,  in  spite  of  doubt. 
[Enter  Mary  Magdalen. 


250  JUDAS 

PETER 
Mary,  what  would  you  here,  at  this  dark  hour? 

JOHN 
Rebuke  her  not — the  Master  loved  her  much. 

MARY 

Brethren  in  the  Lord,  rejoice !    He  is  not  dead, 
for  he  shall  rise  from  the  Dead. 

THOMAS 
Alas!  we  know  too  well  that  he  is  dead. 

MARY 
Nay,  he  shall  rise  again;  he  is  not  dead! 


JUDAS  251 


SCENE  IV 

The  Pentecostal  Visitation 

Anterior  of  a  chamber  at  Jerusalem.  The 
apostles  grouped  around  a  table  as  in  the  Last 
Supper. 

MATTHEW 

For  whom  is  this  vacant  place  at  the  head  of 
the  table? 

ANDREW 

'Tis  kept  in  honor  of  him  who  will  break  bread 
with  us  no  more. 

PETER 

Would  that  I  might  but  look  into  his  dear  face 
again! 

THOMAS 

Alas  for  mortality  and  the  power  of  the  grave 
over  men!  He  has  not  risen!  The  grave 
has  proved  stronger  even  than  he! 


252  JUDAS 

ANDREW 

Yet  has  Mary  Magdalen  avowed  that  she 
found  empty  the  sepulchre  in  which  we  laid 
him.  She  avers  that  she  has  seen  him  and 
spoken  with  him. 

MATTHEW 

Alas  for  the  Kingdom!  Still  bow  the  Jews  be- 
neath the  yoke  of  Rome! 

[The  candles  go   out  as  at  a   sudden 
wind. 

THOMAS 

Some  one  has  flung  open  the  door.  The  wind 
has  blown  out  the  candles! 

ANDREW 
Nay,  I  sit  next  the  door!     'Tis  closed! 

JOHN 
He  has  risen.    He  is  even  now  among  us. 


JUDAS  253 

THOMAS 

Some  one  sits  in  the  chair.  I  feel  a  presence 
by  my  side! 

PETER 

Brethren,  'tis  the  Comforter  of  which  he  spake. 
[A  misty  light  fills  the  room. 

JOHN 

[Smitten  with  the  Spirit. 

Ah,  'tis  he !  'tis  he !  He  is  with  us.  He  has  not 
forsaken  us.  Verily,  he  has  risen  from  the 
Dead  into  a  larger  life  than  ever!  Dear 
Lord,  Beloved  Shepherd  of  Souls,  is  it  thou? 

THOMAS 

I  believe !  I  believe !  It  is  past  speech !  Thy 
Kingdom  comes  as  I  dreamed,  but  dared  not 
believe  I 

JOHN 

He  lives,  he  lives — the  very  Son  of  God! 
Behold  the  Kingdom  that  he  promised  us, 


254  JUDAS 

'Tis  no  vain  dream,  'tis  everlasting  truth! 
He  shall  bind  all  the  nations  into  one, 
The  love  of  him  shall  flood  the  world! 
He  shall  conquer  with  love  and  gentleness,  and 

not  with  the  sword. 
He  shall  live  again  in  every  heart  that  loves  its 

fellow-men. 

Peace  he  will  plant  where  discord  grew  before. 
He  will  save  and  heal  the  souls  of  men  forever 

and  ever. 

Ah,  dear  Master,  forgive  us,  we  beseech  Thee, 
For  deeming  that  Thou  hadst  ever  died! 


CURTAIN 


A     000  047  420     5 


